The most common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are neurological, such as paresthesia in the hands and feet, muscle cramps, dizziness, cognitive disorders, ataxia and erectile dysfunction, as well as fatigue, psychiatric symptoms such as depression and macrocytic anemia. There are a variety of vitamin supplements on the market. However, some of these products contain higher doses than the RDA. Always check with a doctor or health professional before taking supplements to establish the correct dosage.
The following supplements contain vitamin B1 and may help prevent leg cramps due to a deficiency. Nutricost vitamin B1 supplements are available for purchase online. BulkSupplements Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B powder) is available for purchase online. Some supplements and foods can reduce vitamin or mineral deficiencies, and people can use home remedies to reduce symptoms of leg cramps.
Cramps could also be due to a vitamin B12 deficiency, which is much more common. Vitamin B12 deficiency affects between 1.5 and 15% of Americans and can result from not eating enough meat, eggs and milk. It's also common in people with dietary restrictions, such as vegans and vegetarians. Vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that the human body depends on to function.
It is a key player in some of the body's most important operations, from the formation of new red blood cells and the production of DNA to the regulation of nerve function. Vitamin B12 is also important in pregnancy, as it is essential for the development of multiple fetal organs. This is one of the reasons why taking the right amount of vitamin B12 supplements every day is so important to overall health and well-being. Knowing the most common signs of vitamin B12 deficiency can help you better understand if you should supplement your vitamin B12 intake.
Next, we'll look at 11 possible signs of deficiency to consider. Do you want more vitamin B12 to enter your body? Learn more about Everlywell's vitamin B12 supplements. This is due to the role that the vitamin plays in the production of red blood cells. The human body depends on red blood cells to carry oxygen from the lungs to tissues throughout the body.
In turn, tissues use that oxygen to generate energy and give energy to muscles. When you get enough vitamin B12 every day, your body can produce the amount of red blood cells needed to fuel your muscles, helping to prevent feelings of exhaustion. In addition, a vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause other health problems that can cause fatigue, such as megaloblastic anemia. This is vitamin deficiency anemia characterized by the production of larger than normal red blood cells.
Despite their size, these blood cells aren't healthy enough to carry oxygen to body tissues. They also tend to have a shorter life expectancy than healthy red blood cells. If a vitamin B12 deficiency prevents your body from producing enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to muscle tissues, you may experience associated symptoms, such as sporadic muscle cramps or weakness. In addition to lack of oxygen, these symptoms are also due to the role of vitamin B12 in nervous system function, including motor and sensory functions.
Like muscle cramps, another possible sign of a vitamin B12 deficiency is intense burning or tingling sensations in various parts of the body, a condition known as paresthesia. Vitamin B12 absorption is essential for nerve function, so maintaining adequate levels can help prevent the frequent headaches that deficiency can cause. Along with physical health, vitamin B12 can also have an impact on mental health. Vitamin B12, as well as other B vitamins, are extremely important for the body's central nervous system, where they act as coenzymes that cause chemical reactions to help the nervous system function.
The risks of cognitive impairment that lead to vitamin B12 deficiency are more common in older adults. However, the good news is that there is evidence to suggest that treating a vitamin B12 deficiency may improve related cognitive impairment. A condition known as ataxia is also common in some people with vitamin B12 deficiency. Ataxia is a neurological disorder that makes previously simple tasks, such as coordination or balance, extremely difficult.
A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a variety of gastrointestinal problems due to a subsequent lack of red blood cells. When you don't have enough red blood cells, your intestine can't get the amount of oxygen it needs to work properly. Studies show an association between vitamin B12 deficiencies and a medical condition known as glossitis. Glossitis is characterized by painful swelling or inflammation of the mouth or tongue, which may also take on a redder shade.
In many cases, glossitis is the result of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia known as pernicious anemia. In fact, an internal medicine study observed glossitis in up to 25% of patients with pernicious anemia. People who suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency may experience sexual health problems, such as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection. Without vitamin B12, homocysteine doesn't break down properly and high homocysteine levels can reduce a person's ability to have sex.
If diet alone doesn't provide you with adequate amounts of vitamin B12, talk to your healthcare provider about adding vitamin B12 supplements to your daily regimen (Everlywell's vitamin B12 supplements are vegan and non-GMO). Does Vitamin B12 give you energy? Recommended Vitamin B12 Dosage for Older Adults Benefits of Vitamin B12 for Hair. There is a link between leg pain (including nighttime leg pain) and vitamin B12 deficiency. Peripheral neuropathy occurs when nerves don't work properly and can occur when there are low levels of vitamin B12 in the body, MedlinePlus reports.
It may feel like muscle cramps or simply deep leg pain, numbness, or tingling. Cramps or pain associated with neuropathy related to vitamin B12 deficiency can occur any time of the day or only at night. Current research shows that a very severe vitamin D deficiency is likely to reduce muscle mass and increase muscle weakness. .
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