How urgent is a B12 vitamin deficiency? Will I be alright if I don't seek treatment? - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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How urgent is a B12 vitamin deficiency? Will I be alright if I don't seek treatment?

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Why does the body need vitamin B12? The human body needs vitamin B12 to produce red blood cells, DNA, and nerves, and to carry out other functions. On average, an adult should get 2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 a day. B12, just like most vitamins can’t be made by the body. Instead, it must be provided to the body through diet or B12 deficiency supplements. – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: How urgent is a B12 vitamin deficiency? Will I be alright if I don't seek treatment?


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How urgent is a B12 vitamin deficiency? Will I be
alright if I don't seek treatment?
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  • Why does the body need vitamin B12?
  • The human body needs vitamin B12 to produce red
    blood cells, DNA, and nerves, and to carry out
    other functions. On average, an adult should get
    2.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 a day. B12, just
    like most vitamins cant be made by the body.
    Instead, it must be provided to the body through
    diet or  B12 deficiency supplements.
  • And this is where the problem lies Most people
    dont consume enough vitamin B12 to meet their
    needs, while others cannot absorb enough, no
    matter how much they take in, even through
    capsules and tablets. This makes vitamin B12
    deficiency relatively common, especially among
    older people.
  • Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
  • You become anemic if you have vitamin B12
    deficiency. A mild deficiency may show no
    symptoms. But if B12 deficiency treatment is left
    untreated, it can lead to symptoms such as
  • Weakness, tiredness, or lightheadedness
  • Pale skin

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  • Heart palpitations and shortness of breath
  • numbness or tingling, muscle weakness, and
    problem while walking
  • Smooth tongue
  • Constipation, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or gas 
  • Vision loss
  • Mental problems like memory loss, depression, or
    behavioral changes 

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An expert or an experienced physician may notice
these symptoms right away after a good interview
and physical exam, only a blood test will be
required to confirm the condition.  Best B12
Folate supplement is then prescribed to treat
this.  Strict vegetarians or those with weight
loss surgery or any other condition interfering
with the absorption of food can ask your doctor
about having your B12 level checked This way
early detection allows early treatment which is
quite important. Vitamin B12 deficiency treatment
if ignored, the deficiency can cause severe
neurologic problems and blood diseases. What
will happen if your vitamin B12 deficiency is
left untreated? 1. Anemia Anemia in general
refers to a condition when your immune system
attacks healthy cells in your stomach which
prevents the absorption of vitamin B12 from the
food you eat. Anaemia also causes trouble while
getting oxygen to your organs and tissues. It
shows symptoms like
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  • Weakness
  • Pale skin
  • Tiredness
  • Irregular heartbeat
  • Enlarged liver
  • B12 deficiency supplement must therefore be
    immediately resorted to before it is too late.

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2. Nerve Problems One of the many symptoms of
Vitamin B12 deficiency is the sensation of pins
and needles in the hands or feet. This symptom
occurs because vitamin B12 plays an important
role in the nervous system, and its absence or
deficiency can lead to nerve conduction problems
or nerve damage.
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Vitamin B-12 and folate supplements help produce
a substance called myelin in the nervous system.
It is a protective shield that protects the
nerves by helping them transmit sensations.
Without this coating, nerves can be damaged. The
tingling sensation in the hands and feet is
common on account of B12 deficiency, this is also
known as peripheral nerve damage.
3. Mental Health There have been various studies
and researches conducted to determine
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the relationship between Vitamin B12 and mental
health. However, so far, there has not been
enough concrete evidence that shows the positive
effects of  B12 deficiency treatment in patients
with health problems. Yet some studies have shown
positive effects on patients with depression when
supplementation of vitamin B12 is implemented. In
Fact, some clinical studies have shown that the
higher the vitamin B12 levels in the body, the
better results in patients suffering from
depressive and other mental health disorders.
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4. Brain Changes It is a known fact that
everyones brain shrinks with age, but theres
evidence that a B12 deficiency may speed up this
process. Experts think this happens because your
homocysteine levels go up when your B12 levels
are too low. Higher levels of this amino acid are
linked to brain issues and conditions like
Alzheimers disease and dementia.
TSeek Treatment Early symptoms of vitamin B12
can be defeated through a diet like eating
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enough meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products,
and eggs. If you are not fond of animal products,
or you have a medical condition that interferes
with how well your body absorbs nutrients, you
can then resort to taking vitamin B12 deficiency
supplements in a multivitamin form or some other
supplementary form. Do not take vitamin B12
deficiency lightly. If you choose to take vitamin
B12 supplements, let your doctor know, so they
can inform you about the accurate dose.
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