Vitamin B12 is necessary to maintain the health of the blood and nerves of the body.
If a deficiency occurs and is not treated, complications such as decreased vision and infertility may occur. In some cases, it can even increase the risk of stomach cancer.
Pernicious anemia is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency in the UK, but people on a vegetarian diet who do not take vitamin B12 supplements may also be at risk, as B12 is found in meat, fish and dairy products.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a wide range of symptoms. But the British Medical Journal (BMJ) notes that in 15 percent of cases, people may experience symptoms related to the blood and bone marrow.
Symptoms related to blood include:
- Pancytopenia
- Macrocytosis
- Hypersegmented neutrophils
Pancytopenia describes low levels of all three types of blood cells—red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Symptoms of low red blood cells include fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness. Symptoms of low white blood cells include fever, sores, and mouth ulcers. Symptoms of low platelets include easy bruising, heavy menstrual bleeding, or blood in your stool, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Macrocytosis describes red blood cells that are larger than normal. And neutrophil hypertrophy is when neutrophils (white blood cells) remain in circulation for a long time instead of migrating to tissues.
Symptoms related to bone marrow include:
- hyperplasia
- Megaloblastic features
Hyperplasia is an increase in cell production in an abnormal tissue or organ. Megaloblastic anemia is a type of anemia characterized by very large red blood cells.
Some of the more general vitamin B12 symptoms to look out for are listed by the NHS:
- Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
- Headache
- Indigestion
- Loss of appetite
- heart beat
- Your vision problems
- Feeling weak or tired
- diarrhea
- Sore or red tongue, sometimes accompanied by mouth sores
- Memory, understanding and judgment problems (cognitive changes)
Vitamin B12 deficiency is usually treated with an injection of vitamin B12 called hydroxocobalamin.
The NHS advises that if your vitamin deficiency is due to a vitamin deficiency in your diet, you may be advised to take vitamin B12 supplements every day between meals.
If you suspect symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, talk to your GP.
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