Vitamin B12 deficiency can affect your body in many ways, leading to worrying physical and mental health symptoms. This essential nutrient is needed for DNA synthesis, energy production, and central nervous system function. When you do not have enough Vitamin B12 in your body, you may experience a range of mild to serious symptoms. Vitamin B12 is found mostly in animal-based foods and its intake can be a bit challenging for vegans or even vegetarians as it is not found naturally in plant-based foods.
Some known symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency are pins and needles sensation in hands, weak muscles, numbness of limbs, mouth ulcers or inflammation, fatigue, and weight loss among others. In worse cases, this deficiency can lead to deep depression, delusions, memory loss, incontinence, among others. Do not take Vitamin B12 deficiency lightly. As per the journal Nutrients, a high dietary intake of Vitamin B12 is associated with lower rates of advanced age-related macular degeneration.
Here are lesser-known signs of Vitamin B12:
1. Mood swings
Vitamin B12 plays an important role in brain development and cognitive function. When you are not eating Vitamin B12-rich foods like milk, meat, egg, fish or Vitamin B12-fortified foods, you may start to experience a decline in cognitive function like memory loss, problems in focusing, mood swings or in cases of severe deficiency - depression.
2. Tongue discomfort
Vitamin B12 deficiency can manifest in dental issues like tongue discomfort, mouth ulcers and inflammation in the mouth. Your tongue may appear red and swollen.
3. Infertility in women
If you have been trying to conceive for a while and are not able to find any specific reason of not being successful, it could be due to temporary infertility issues triggered by lack of Vitamin B12 in your diet. The same can be resolved after following a Vitamin B12-rich diet. The deficiency can also result in irregular menstrual cycle
4. Loss of taste and smell
If you are experiencing reduced ability to taste and smell, you can blame B12 deficiency for it.
5. Pale skin
This can happen due to vitamin B12–deficiency anemia, wherein you experience symptoms of anemia such as fatigue, paleness, shortness of breath, headaches, or dizziness. This can aggravate to brain and nervous system symptoms if not corrected.
6: Balance issues
The deficiency of this vitamin is linked to neurological problems like persistent tingling in the hands and feet or problems with balance. It may also cause mental confusion and forgetfulness because the nutrient is crucial for healthy brain function.
7. Erectile dysfunction
Research has suggested that Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause impotence in men. Eating a diet low in this crucial vitamin may contribute to erectile dysfunction.
