Vitamin B12 deficiency is a treatable condition that happens if you are not consuming enough vitamin B12 in your diet or if your body is not absorbing it properly. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause physical, neurological and psychological symptoms. It can be treated with B12 supplements in the form of either liquid liposomal B12 or in capsule.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency

• extreme tiredness.
• a lack of energy.
• pins and needles (paraesthesia)
• a sore and red tongue
• mouth ulcers.
• muscle weakness.
• disturbed vision.
• psychological problems, which may include depression

What is vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 deficiency happens when your body is either not getting enough or not absorbing enough vitamin B12 from the food that you eat that it needs to function properly. Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient that helps your body make red blood cells and DNA, the genetic material in all of your cells. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause physical, neurological and psychological problems if it is not treated.

Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

• Atrophic gastritis, in which your stomach lining has thinned
• Pernicious anemia, which makes it hard for your body to absorb vitamin B12
• Conditions that affect your small intestine, such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, or a parasite
• Misused alcohol or drank heavily, which can make it harder for your body to absorb nutrients or prevent you from eating enough calories. One sign that you lack enough B12 may be glossitis, or a swollen, inflamed tongue.
• Immune system disorders, such as Graves’ disease or lupus
• Medications that interfere with absorption.
  • Long-term use of metformin, a drug commonly prescribed for type 2 diabetes, is strongly associated with vitamin B12 deficiency and lower folic acid levels as it can block absorption, which may lead to increased homocysteine levels and risk for cardiovascular disease.
  • Proton pump inhibitors and
  • histamine blockers prescribed to reduce stomach acid are also associated with lower vitamin B12 levels.
• You can also get vitamin B12 deficiency if you follow a vegan diet (meaning you don’t eat any animal products, including meat, milk, cheese, and eggs) or you are a vegetarian who doesn’t eat enough eggs or dairy products to meet your vitamin B12 needs. In both of those cases, you can add fortified foods to your diet or take supplements to meet this need. Learn more about the different types of vitamin B supplements.