Vitamin B12 deficiency: Three physical changes to your appearance that others may notice
Dr Dawn Harper on signs of vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiency
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A deficiency in vitamin B12 is particularly common for people over the age of 50, confirmed Ada Health. This is irrespective if they have a healthy and varied diet, because it’s linked to an acquired immune disorder. Physical manifestations of a vitamin B12 deficiency might become apparent over time. One indication you’re lacking the vital nutrient is developing a pale yellow tinge to your skin.
Another change in your physical appearance might include having a really red tongue; this might feel painful or sore.
You might also notice that you’ve gained canker sores and mouth ulcers inside of the mouth.
Canker sores are “small, shallow lesions that develop on the soft tissues in your mouth or at the base of your gums”, said the Mayo Clinic.
Such physical changes to your appearance mustn’t be taken lightly, as they’re indicative of a more sinister health issue.
If vitamin B12 levels are left to continually dwindle, anaemia develops and “irreversible problems” involving the nerves and brain can take place, warned Ada Health.
The risk of experiencing a number of serious complications, including heart failure, may also increase.
Seek medical advice as soon as possible if you’re experiencing a yellow tinge to your skin, mouth cankers, and a red, sore tongue, as well as:
- Constipation
- Pins and needles, numbness or other strange sensations in the hands, legs or feet
- Vision disturbances
- Difficulty walking and balance problems
- Perceptible differences in mood, thoughts, feelings and behaviour
- Confusion and difficulty thinking
- Memory loss
- Irritability
- Depression
- Psychosis
A vitamin B12 deficiency can also lead to an increase in the risk of stomach cancer, particularly if the condition is caused by pernicious anaemia.
Pernicious anaemia is an acquired immune disorder where the body attacks the cells in the stomach lining.
In healthy adults, the cells in the stomach create a protein called intrinsic factor (IF).
IF then binds to vitamin B12 in the stomach so that the nutrient can be reabsorbed into the body when it travels through the gut.
When the immune system attacks the stomach cells, intrinsic factor can’t be created.
As a consequence, no matter how much you eat containing vitamin B12, the nutrient will be passed out of the body.
The autoimmune condition can be diagnosed from a simple blood test at a medical centre.
If you happen to have this condition and have low stores of vitamin B12, symptoms of anaemia might be the first warning signs.
Signs of anaemia include:
- Fatigue
- Lethargy
- Breathlessness
- Faintness
- Headaches
- Paleness
- Palpitations
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Loss of appetite
- Altered sense of taste
- Unexplained weight loss
In order to prevent serious long-term health issues, do go for routine blood tests that can pick up a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Treatment might involve injections or oral supplementation to remedy vitamin B12 levels in the body.
Injections might be life-long, occurring on an annual basis, but the GP will discuss what works best for you.
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