The Dangers of B12 Deficiency & Who is at Risk

By Jo Garcia Lifestyle Blogger. 

Did you know that B12 is an amazing and important vitamin that many of us do not get as much of as we need? For many reasons, some of us may need to pay a little more attention to our B12 intake than others. If you have ever been curious about why we need B12, please read on.

Deficiency symptoms

Vitamin B12 should be taken to prevent a deficiency, and not looked at as a cure. Below are some of the symptoms that someone could suffer due to a B12 deficiency:

• Constipation or diarrhea
• Weakness or tiredness
• Pale skin
• Feeling sick to the stomach
• Weight loss
• Bleeding gums and a sore, red tongue
• If a person’s level of vitamin B12 stays low for too long, it can lead to nerve damage, depression, dementia, balance issues and even numbness in the toes and fingers.

Who’s at risk?

Everyone is at risk, but some people have circumstances that make them more susceptible to the deficiency. These include:

• People over 50
• People taking a proton-pump inhibitor (such as Nexium or Prevacid) or an H2 blocker (such as Pepcid or Zantac)
• Those who take metformin (a diabetes drug)
• Vegetarians
• People who have had weight-loss surgery or have a condition that interferes with the absorption of food

What can I do?

Don’t worry! There are some great options to make sure that we all get the B12 we need. The easiest is to go for a No-Shot B12 from Superior Source (because who wants to get a shot?). And when deciding what to eat, incorporate some of these foods that contain B12 into your diet;

• milk products
• beans
• nuts
• eggs
• poultry, lean meats
• fish

Stay healthy!

*Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.