What happens if your B12 is dangerously low?

Key points about vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
Without enough red blood cells, your tissues and organs don't get enough oxygen. Without enough oxygen, your body can't work as well. Symptoms include weak muscles, numbness, trouble walking, nausea, weight loss, irritability, fatigue, and increased heart rate.

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What is a critically low B12 level?

Values of less than 160 pg/mL (118 pmol/L) are a possible sign of a vitamin B12 deficiency. People with this deficiency are likely to have or develop symptoms. Older adults with a vitamin B12 level less than 100 pg/mL (74 pmol/L) may also have symptoms.

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Can low B12 be serious?

If vitamin B12 deficiency is left untreated, it can cause lasting serious side effects that affect the nervous system and brain. More severe side effects of vitamin B12 deficiency include: Peripheral neuropathy. Degeneration of the spinal cord.

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What are the 4 stages of B12 deficiency?

Stage 1 is decreased levels of vitamin B12 in the blood. Stage 2 is low concentration of vitamin B12 in the cell and metabolic abnormalities. Stage 3 is increased levels of homocysteine and MMA and decreased DNA synthesis resulting in neuropsychiatric symptoms. Stage 4 is macrocytic anemia.

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Can you collapse from B12 deficiency?

Background: Ataxia due to a vitamin B12 deficiency can be a cause of falls in elderly patients. Case description: An 86-year-old woman presented with functional decline and gait problems. She had been falling regularly. The patient's gait was ataxic and she was unable to stand without support.

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⚠️ Top 10 DANGERS of Vitamin B12 Deficiency ▶ BEWARE ❗

41 related questions found

How long before B12 deficiency causes permanent damage?

Long-term vitamin B12 deficiency can cause nerve damage. This may be permanent if you do not start treatment within 6 months of when your symptoms begin.

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What causes B12 to keep dropping?

Diet. Some people can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency as a result of not getting enough vitamin B12 from their diet. A diet that includes meat, fish and dairy products usually provides enough vitamin B12, but people who do not regularly eat these foods can become deficient.

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Can low B12 cause weight gain?

Vitamin B12 deficiency can indeed lead to weight gain. But the weight gain is not a direct result of the deficiency. Instead, vitamin B12 deficiency causes lethargy or lack of energy, and in turn, inactivity causes weight gain. When you lack the energy to move, you don't burn fat.

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What are subtle signs of B12 deficiency?

Symptoms of B-12 deficiency can be subtle at first. Early symptoms may include a persistent tingling or prickly feeling in your feet or hands, weakness, numbness, imbalance, and mental problems such as confusion, depression, irritability and forgetfulness. Rarely, vitamin B-12 deficiency is a cause of dementia.

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What are the seven signs of vitamin B12 deficiency?

  • Don't Ignore These 7 Warning Signs of Vitamin B12 Deficiency. One of the most critical but overlooked vitamins in the world is vitamin B12. ...
  • Dizziness. Frequent bouts about dizziness and vertigo can indicate B12 deficiency. ...
  • Forgetfulness. ...
  • Muscle Weakness. ...
  • Pale Complexion. ...
  • Pins and Needles. ...
  • Unexplained Fatigue. ...
  • Vision Issues.

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How long can you go with B12 deficiency?

How long does it take to recover from B12 deficiency? Once you begin treating your vitamin B12 deficiency, it can take up to six to 12 months to fully recover.

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How does B12 deficiency affect your walking?

The NHS notes that vitamin B12 deficiency can cause “loss of physical coordination (ataxia), which can affect your whole body and cause difficulty speaking or walking”. The Mayo Clinic describes the walking style saying a person with vitamin B12 deficiency can walk unsteadily, or with their feet set wide apart.

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How long can you go without B12?

In healthy people, the body tends to have a store of vitamin B12 that can last two to five years without being replenished.

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How soon do you feel less tired after a B12 injection?

It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. If you have hydroxocobalamin injections to boost your vitamin B12 levels at the start of treatment, the cyanocobalamin tablets may start to work within a few days.

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What is the fastest way to recover from B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 deficiency resulting from inadequate dietary intake is the easiest to treat. The condition can be reversed by taking oral vitamin B12 supplements and adding foods containing B12.

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What foods should be avoided if you have B12 deficiency?

There are certain foods that also need a cut-down in case of vitamin B12 deficiency. “Some foods and drinks can interfere with vitamin B complex intake like alcohol, caffeine and processed foods, etc should be avoided completely,” Shah added.

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What does B12 deficiency pain feel like?

The most prevalent symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are neurologic, such as paresthesia in hands and feet, muscle cramps, dizziness, cognitive disturbances, ataxia, and erectile dysfunction, as well as fatigue, psychiatric symptoms like depression, and macrocytic anemia.

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Does low B12 cause pain in body?

Muscle cramps and weakness

If a B12 deficiency is preventing the body from producing enough red blood cells to get oxygen to muscle tissues, you may experience associated symptoms, like sporadic muscle cramps or weakness [3].

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Does B12 affect sleep?

B12 also plays a role in the production of melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate our circadian rhythms. It is possible that a deficiency of B12 could lead to disrupted sleep patterns.

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Can stress and anxiety cause B12 deficiency?

Stress is known to deplete our levels of B vitamins, especially vitamin B12. Vegetarians, vegans and those on restricted diets can struggle to get enough vitamin B12 to meet their body's needs.

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Will I lose weight if I take B12?

There's no solid proof that vitamin B-12 shots, also called injections, help you lose weight. Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble B complex vitamin. It's found naturally in many foods, such as meat, fish and dairy products. Vitamin B-12 is added to some foods and is available as a dietary supplement.

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What blocks B12 absorption?

[1] People who regularly take medications that suppress stomach acid for conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or peptic ulcer disease—such as proton-pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, or other antacids—may have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from food.

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What are the side effects of B12 injections?

Common side effects
  • Pain, swelling or itchy skin where you had the injection. These symptoms are usually mild and should only last a few hours. ...
  • Feeling or being sick (nausea or vomiting) Stick to simple meals and avoid rich or spicy food. ...
  • Diarrhoea. ...
  • Headaches. ...
  • Feeling dizzy. ...
  • Hot flushes.

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How do I know if B12 injections are working?

B12 injections work quickly. They are one of the most effective ways for your body to assimilate vitamin B12. Within 48 to 72 hrs, your body will begin making new red blood cells. For deficiencies, you may require a number of injections over a few weeks to see peak impact.

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