How to recognize the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?
- Vitamin B12 is only found in foods of animal origin.
- The main symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency is anemia.
- A deficiency can lead to nerve damage, muscle weakness, motor difficulties, etc.
Offal, meat, poultry, fish, seafood, dairy products… Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is only present in foods of animal origin, depending on the Vidal. Per day, you should consume 4 micrograms (µg) for men and women aged 18 and over, according to theNational Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (Anses).
Anemia, the main symptom of a lack of vitamin B12
When these proportions are not respected, there is a risk of deficiency. In this case, the main symptom is anemiathat is to say an abnormal drop in the level of hemoglobin in the blood.
So the symptoms Characteristics of anemia may be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency:
- Pallor
- Shortness of breath
- Chronic fatigue
- Palpitations
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, reading
- Lack of motivation, enthusiasm
- Difficulty carrying out usual activities
- Irritability
- Memory and mood disorders
Vitamin B12 deficiency: consult your doctor if you have symptoms
If you notice any of these symptoms, you should consult your general practitioner because a vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause, depending on the MSD manual“nerve damage, tingling or loss of sensation in the hands and feet, muscle weakness, loss of reflexes, motor difficulties, confusion and dementia.”
The doctor will ask you to carry out blood tests to establish the diagnosis. If they indicate a deficiency, he may then prescribe vitamin B12 supplements.
In a context of general price increases linked to inflation, vitamin B12 deficiency could become a public health problem. In fact, the prices of foods of animal origin are among the highest. According to a recent Ifop-Fiducial surveyalready 30% of French people deprive themselves of certain foods or regularly skip a meal.
