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We all know that vitamins and minerals are essential for our health and their deficiency can lead to a number of conditions. But how would you know if you are deficient in any one of the myriad of vitamins needed for the proper functioning of the body? Well, here are some symptoms you should keep a look out for, especially in the case of vitamin B complex or B12 deficiency.
Why do you need vitamin B12?
Commonly found in everyday foods, this vitamin is essential for a number of processes within your body including the production of blood cells and formation of DNA. Apart from that, it also helps keep your nervous system healthy. Found only in foods like dairy and meat products, vitamin B12 deficiency occurs when your body gets little to no vitamin B12. This deficiency can lead to a form of anemia known as megaloblastic anemia that leads to constant fatigue.
Here's how you can tell if you have vitamin B12 deficiency
Apart from amemia, the deficiency of vitamin B12 can also a number of other health problems. Here is a list of symptoms that can indicate a deficiency of vitamin B12.
Skin problems
When your vitamin B12 reserves are low, the first organ to take a hit is your skin. The deficiency affects the amount of blood flow to the skin and hinders your skin's repair and rejuvenate process. All this put together leads to dry, dull skin that is prone to cracking (especially at the corners of the mouth), dermatitis, bruising and wounds that do not heal quickly.
Fatigue
Constant or debilitating fatigue is another common symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency. This could then eventually lead to muscle weakness, lack of coordination when walking and in severe cases it could lead to the wasting away of muscle mass. Apart from that, soreness or pain in the joints and muscles with a tingling sensation in the fingers and toes or numbness are also a classic sing of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Weight loss
A Vitamin B12 deficiency can also lead to a sudden weight loss, that if left un-diagnosed and treated can lead to other serious problems like constant fatigue and weakness.
Depression
Depression is a symptom of long-term deficiency of vitamin B12.
Constipation
If you are currently deficient in Vitamin B-12 levels, you could experience stomach problems like include nausea or a loss of appetite, constipation or irregular bowel and cramping or pain in the abdomen.
Tingling and/or numbness
When you are deficient in vitamin B12 , it affects your central nervous system which eventually gets damaged. Common symptoms related to this damage are experiencing a tingling senation or numbness in your extremities, causing your skin to turn pale.
Treatment
Once diagnosed the treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency is quite easy, all you need is an injection of vitamin B12. Apart from that the cause of your deficiency will also be treated. If mal-absorption of vitamins from food is the underlying issue, you will be put on a diet that can help resolve the deficiency.
Photo source: Getty images
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