Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms
The trickiest part is that B12 deficiency usually shows itself with an array of symptoms, which can be easily confused with a few other conditions.
While an experienced doctor is able to detect a vitamin B12 deficiency with a good physical exam and a blood test, you need to listen to your body and get checked as soon as you notice any warning signs. Early detection and treatment is important, as they can help prevent severe neurologic problems and blood diseases.
So, here are 6 common signs and symptoms of low Vitamin B12:
1. Fatigue
It may seem as if exhaustion and lightheadedness may be too common to be associated with a particular deficiency, they are often the first warning signs of vitamin deficiency. And fatigue is definitely a big clue, as it is more than mere exhaustion. Fatigue is extreme tiredness, even after a full night of proper sleep.
Low levels of B12 can cause fatigue and exhaustion for sure. These symptoms are very indicative, because the body decreases normal red blood cell production, which makes it difficult to deliver adequate amounts of oxygen to the organs. A chronic deficiency in B12 or folate can put you at risk of developing megaloblastic anemia. This condition leads to the formation of large, abnormal, and immature red blood cells and impaired DNA synthesis.
