As one of the building blocks of all our blood cells, vitamin B12 plays a vital role in managing key body functions. If your physician tells you your vitamin B12 levels are low, that means the number of red blood cells (that carry oxygen), white blood cells (that fight infections) and platelets (that help your blood clot) will be lower than normal and/or abnormal in size and function. The clinical name for this is generally megaloblastic anemia.
According to Leah Hopkins, MD, an internal medicine provider with SSM Health Medical Group in Oklahoma City, low vitamin B12 levels can be a definite cause for concern. It can cause problems with the nerves in the body. “This could lead to numbness and tingling which usually starts in the toes, slowly creeping up the legs as the deficiency worsens,” she explained.
Hopkins added that low vitamin B12 levels can also affect balance and the ability to think clearly in some situations. Most commonly, she said, low vitamin B12 causes fatigue and sluggishness.
She explained that the most common causes of vitamin B12 deficiency in people living in developed countries include:
- Not eating enough foods with vitamin B12 -- vitamin B12 is found mostly in animal products, so people with vegan or vegetarian diets can be particularly at risk.
- Some medications such as metformin and proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole for example) can interfere with the ability to absorb vitamin B12.
- Decreased or lack of absorption due to stomach/bowel issues such as celiac disease, bariatric surgery, Crohn's disease and aging.
- Prenatal/perinatal vitamin B12 deficiency can occur when mothers are deficient in vitamin B12 during pregnancy and/or breast feeding. These are typically screened for, but are very important for the development of infants' brains.
Luckily, according to Hopkins, regular screening exams and laboratory tests have helped identify risk factors and issues much earlier than in the past. “When found early, the symptoms are generally able to be treated fairly easily with vitamin B12 replacement, typically by mouth, but sometimes through injections,” she said. “A healthy lifestyle and regular check-ups are the best lines of defense in avoiding vitamin B12 deficiency.”
Concerned about your B12 levels? Find an SSM Health physician today.
