Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia: Symptoms & Causes

Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia is a medical condition that develops when the body is not able to  produce healthy red blood cells due to lack of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is required to produce healthy RBCs (red blood cells), WBCs (white blood cells), and platelets. 

This condition can arise if you eat foods that lack vitamin B-12 and folate, or if your body has difficulty absorbing these vitamins due to problems with the gut. This can also happen if you have pernicious anaemia. Without enough vitamin B12 in the body, your body produces very large red blood cells. These abnormal RBCs have a much shorter life span than normal RBCs. 

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia: The symptoms might vary from person to person, but here are some common symptoms.

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• Weak muscles and uncontrollable movements
• Tingling sensation 
• Trouble walking
• Feeling Nauseous 
• Confusing or memory issues 
• Reduced  appetite
• Weight loss
• Diarrhoea 
• Irritation
• Fatigue 
• Smooth, painful and tender tongue 
• Increased heart rate

The symptoms may be confused with some other health conditions that’s why it’s always better to see a healthcare expert for the right diagnosis.

Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia can be caused due to :

Lack of intrinsic factor in the body: Intrinsic factor is a protein produced in your stomach which helps in vitamin B12 absorption. The anaemia caused by lack of intrinsic factor is called pernicious anaemia. Vitamin B12–deficiency anaemia can also develop if your body is not able to absorb the necessary amount of vitamin B12 from your diet. 

Usually old people have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 because of digestive problems. Difficulty in absorption can also be caused by any surgical procedure which involves bypassing or removing the end of the small intestine. The end of the small intestine is the part where vitamin B12 is absorbed.

Medicines: Certain medicines can interfere with vitamin B12 absorption. 

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Medical conditions: Certain medical conditions like, autoimmune diseases, type 1 diabetes, genetic condition, gut issues and thyroid diseases can be the reasons. 

Prevention:

You may not be able to prevent certain causes but if you are healthy there are certain preventive measures you can take. 

You should include include vitamin B12 enriched foods like:

• Chicken
• Lean meat
• Milk
• Yogurt 
• Cheese
• Fish, like catfish and salmon;
• Seafood, like oysters
• Eggs
• Fortified cereals

Have similar symptoms? Do consult Gytree’s nutritionist to get a personalised diet plan.

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