Who is at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency?
Anyone can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency. However, some people are at greater risk because their diet does not contain enough B12, or their gastrointestinal tract cannot absorb the vitamin properly. Some of the risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency include:
- Eating a restrictive diet, such as a strict vegetarian or vegan diet.
- Older age (there is reduced stomach acid production with age, and acid in the stomach is necessary to absorb vitamin B12).
- A family history of vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Lack of intrinsic factor (a protein made in the stomach that’s needed for B12 absorption) – this condition is called pernicious anemia.
- Gastric bypass surgery (weight loss surgery).
- Health conditions like Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, thyroid disease, HIV, and autoimmune diseases like type 1 diabetes.
- Certain medications like heartburn drugs which reduce stomach acid production.
Signs and Symptoms of B12 Deficiency
Fatigue
If you’re deficient in vitamin B12, your body can’t make enough healthy red blood cells. As a result, oxygen delivery to various organs and tissues is affected. Lack of healthy red blood cells can make you feel tired with weak muscles. Indeed, fatigue is one of the first signs of vitamin B12 deficiency. You can develop this symptom even when your B12 levels are only borderline low.
