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Recent research has studied the link between vitamin B12 deficiency and cognitive decline in older people.
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Although more research is needed on vitamin B12 and neurological behavior, the nutrient is essential for energy production.
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Vitamin D deficiencies can cause anemia, fatigue, sensory problems, and nerve damage.
Vitamin B12 is an easy vitamin to get, either through food or supplements, which is a good thing because deficiency can cause lasting damage to your nerves and cognition.
Recent research has found higher rates of cognitive decline in older people who have both a vitamin B12 deficiency and an excess of folic acid or vitamin B9, he said. Dr. Eduardo Villamorprofessor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan.
Some research has suggested that vitamin B12 may help with depression and prevent dementiaBut Villamor said more research is needed on the impact vitamin B12 has on neurological behavior.
“There is substantial interest in the role of vitamin B-12 in neurocognitive performance, especially in the elderly,” Villamor said. “The role of vitamin B-12 in fetal, infant, and child neurodevelopment is also an important area of research.”
Here’s how to tell if you’re deficient in vitamin B12 and why you need this important nutrient:
Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency range from mild fatigue to severe neurological complications
Villamor said that people who lack vitamin B12 develop a variety of symptoms depending on how long they have been deficient in the nutrient.
People with mild vitamin B12 deficiency may develop fatigue, he said. Vitamin B12 reacts with compounds in the body to produce DNA and energy, so a deficiency can lead to tiredness.
Mild to moderate vitamin B12 deficiency can cause anemia, or when the body lacks enough healthy red blood cells to help deliver oxygen. Dr. Aaron Goodman, a hematologist and professor at UC San Diego Health, previously told Insider that anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency results in cracks or sores around the mouth.
Villamor said moderate vitamin B12 deficiency could lead to a form of anemia called macrocytosis, or when red blood cells become enlarged. The condition doesn’t usually produce symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic, but it can show up on routine blood tests.
Moderate deficiency can also lead to peripheral neuropathy, or damage to nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include sensory problems such as tingling or numbness in the hands and feet, and glossitisor inflammation of the tongue that could cause sensitivity to spicy or acidic foods.
Severe deficiency could lead to “severe neurological and psychiatric manifestations,” Villamor said. Neurological symptoms include:
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Irritability
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impaired cognition
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Depression
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Psychosis
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Dementia
Some neurological symptoms can become permanent if vitamin B12 deficiency is left untreated, says registered dietitian elizabeth beil he previously told Insider.
Severe vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause more severe anemia and problems with other blood cells, inflammation and weakening of the heart, and even infertility, according to Villamor.
Treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency
Villamor said that people most at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency are those with low intakes of animal food such as eggs and meat, which are the only natural source of the vitamin. These people may not eat enough animal-source foods “either by choice, for example strict vegetarians, or due to socio-economic constraints, such as in many low- and middle-income countries, where animal-source foods can be expensive” Villamore said.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can be prevented by eating animal-based foods “if choice and purchasing power allow,” Villamor said, or through oral supplements and fortified foods. Other treatments include intramuscular injections or a intravenous drip.
The doctor added that older adults or people who have had stomach surgery such as bypass surgery could have a type of malabsorption that can cause vitamin B12 deficiency. People who take medications to decrease stomach acid and alcohol drinkers may also be at risk, Villamor said.
Read the original article at Well-informed person
