Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 Deficiency:
Recent studies have revealed the importance of Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in our mental and physical health.

Vitamin B12 (which plays an important role in balanced neurological functioning and DNA Synthesis) deficiency, can lead to neuropsychiatric and hematologic disorders, macrocytic anemia (also known as Megaloblastic anemia), hyperhomocysteinemia, atherosclerosis, pancytopenia, peripheral neuropathy, paresthesias, psychiatric problems such as irritability, change in personality, memory impairment, depression, psychosis and dementia and sub-acute Combined Systems Disease etc. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also said to be linked with cardiovascular problems such as stroke, myocardial infraction (Vitamin B12 indirectly increases the risk of cardiovascular problems) etc. Possible involvement of Vitamin B12 deficiency in other diseases is still a subject of deep medical study.

What role Vitamin B12 plays in human body?
Vitamin B12 is required for the production of red blood cells. It also plays an important role of a cofactor in conversion of methylmalonic acid into succinyl-CoA (this is one of the two known enzyme reactions that need Vitamin B12) and conversion of homocysteine into methionine (along with folic acid). Vitamin B12 deficiency in this case can lead to increase in methylmalonic acid and homocystein level in body.

Symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency:
As the level of oxygen in body decrease because of anemia caused by Vitamin B12 deficiency, the patient may experience:

• Rapid and shorter breathing
• Very weak pulse rate and irregular heartbeats
• Frequent headache
• Lethargy
• Dizziness
• sore tongue, mouth and throat
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea

Possible causes of Vitamin B12 deficiency:
Number of cases diagnosed for Vitamin B12 deficiency has risen exponentially alone in US for last couple of years.
Other than aging, use of medical substances (such as agents used in acid suppression therapy), proton pump inhibitors (used for ulcer diseases) and histamine H2-receptor blockers etc. may cause damage to Vitamin B12 level (or hinders Vitamin B12 breakdown and absorption) in body has emerged as one of the major factors causing Vitamin B12 deficiency in people.
Problems in absorption (malabsorption syndrome: pernicious anemia that cause destruction of gastric parietal cells, which in turn hinders production of intrinsic factor important for Vitamin B12 absorption), absence of vitamin B12 rich dietary supplement (such as meat, animal products, fishes (salmon), eggs and dairy products) and problems related to gastro-intestine also can cause Vitamin B12 deficiency.
Other than the causes mentioned above, there are many other possible medical conditions that can cause vitamin B12 deficiency. Please consult your doctor for the complete information and tips.

How vitamin B12 deficiency is diagnosed?
Increased level of methylmalonic acid and homocyhstein in blood along with decreased level of serum vitamin B12 can be considered as early symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency. Other indicative conditions such as hematologic problems also point towards vitamin B12 deficiency. Schilling Test that helps in revealing pernicious anemia; has been proved to be of great help in uncovering vitamin B12 deficiency for a long time.

Vitamin B12 deficiency treatment:
Vitamin B12 deficiency treatment involves: Oral (parenteral) therapy & Intramuscular injection therapy. (Both the methods have proved to be similarly efficient)
Ever since it has been revealed in a study that a small quantity of Vitamin B12 (taken orally) is directly absorbed by the system, which is then bonded to Transcobalamin II and circulated through the body, Oral (parenteral) therapy has also found its way back in Vitamin B12 deficiency treatment.
Intramuscular injection therapy is in use for as long as the study of this subject. In this method, vitamin B12 supplement is injected to patient’s body. The number of injections and treatment period is decided after studying patient’s condition.

Important tips:
Once a person is diagnosed for Vitamin B12 deficiency, a proper treatment plan is very important. Once the treatment is initiated, the patient should visit doctor regularly in order to follow up the response to treatment and find out if there is any need to change the course. Patient should also consult doctor regarding dietary supplement that should be followed (or substances that should be avoided) during the treatment.