Vitamin B-12 is an essential vitamin that supports numerous body functions such as efficient nerve functioning, brain health, and cell formation. The B-vitamins are a group of eight nutrients, with each one relevant for your overall well-being.

What is a Vitamin B-12 Deficiency?

Vitamin B-12 anemia is a condition in which the human body is unable to produce enough healthy red blood cells (RBCs) because of the low levels of B vitamins in the body.

These vitamins are required by the body to produce the RBCs and these cells transport oxygen to the various parts of the body.

So, being deficient in vitamin B-12 means your tissues and organs aren’t getting enough oxygen to function efficiently.

Symptoms of Vitamin B-12 Deficiency

A vitamin B-12 deficiency over time can impact the circulatory and nervous system of the body. Deficiency of this vitamin can even cause a condition known as megaloblastic anemia in which the bone marrow starts producing abnormal, large-shaped RBCs that don’t perform their functions properly.

Several physiological changes, such as aggressive behavior, depression, and paranoia, can result from your vitamin B-12 deficiency. And, generally, the neurological damages cannot be reversed.

Here, Are the Common Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency:-

Weakness
Confusion
Poor Memory
Loss of Appetite
Tingling in the Hands & Feet
Fatigue

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or in combination, then you must consult your physician and consider undergoing the vitamin B-12 deficiency test.

Who is at Risk?

Our body doesn’t naturally have vitamin B-12; it comes from dairy products, meat & fish. So, people who are a great risk of vitamin B-12 are:-

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Vegans
People With Diabetes
Older Adults
Children
People Who Had Undergone Bypass Surgery

According to Harvard Health Publications, new moms who are breastfeeding must take the vitamin B-12 level tests to determine if they are deficient because their deficiency could lead to increased risk for neurological damage in their baby.

How Does the Vitamin B-12 Level Elisa Test Works?

ELISA, also known as Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, is a widely prescribed test by doctors to evaluate vitamin B-12 deficiency in your blood.

During the ELISA immunoassay test, your healthcare provider will clean some area of your elbow or arm with an alcohol pad or antiseptic wipes.

They’ll wrap an elastic band around the top of your arm to increase the blood flow. After that, your health care provider will insert the needle into the vein and collect your blood.

When the blood has been drawn, they will carefully remove the needle and apply the bandage.

Your blood sample will be sent to the lab for determining the vitamin B-12 levels in the blood.

It’s possible to test your vitamin B-12 level in the body with convenient home testing kits also.

Both high and low levels of vitamin B-12 indicates an underlying health problem. Low levels suggest anemia, while high-levels may increase the risk of cancer.

How to Naturally Compensate for Vitamin B12 Deficiency

To naturally increase vitamin B-12 in your body, you need to make certain diet changes, which includes food which contain more of:

low-fat milk, cheese & yogurt
beef, liver & chicken
fish & shellfish
eggs

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Conclusion

In the end, if you’ve been diagnosed with vitamin B-12 deficiency, the goal of the treatment is to increase the levels. Your treatment includes

Vitamin B-12 injections at regular intervals.
Daily supplements of vitamin B-12, such as Cyanocobalamin.
Having a diet rich in vitamin B12.
Regular injection of vitamin B-12 through the nose.

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