ADPH Asks Public To Be Aware Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Main Category: Compliance
Also Included In: Ovarian Cancer
Article Date: 25 Aug 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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Individuals of any age should make sure they are not at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency. The Alabama Department of Public Health joins the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations in urging awareness of this nutritional disorder.

Low vitamin B12 levels occur among 1 in 31 adults 51 years of age and older. Vitamin B12 deficiency is simple to prevent and treat, but the signs and symptoms are easy to miss and are often overlooked.

According to the CDC, vitamin B12 deficiency develops slowly, and symptoms appear so gradually that they can be missed. Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause anemia over time. Its symptoms include feeling weak, tired and faint; heart palpitations; looking pale; and shortness of breath.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause symptoms such as nerve pain or tingling, dementia, mental illness, tremor, difficulty walking and frequent falls. It is commonly misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's disease, depression, peripheral neuropathy, vertigo and ministrokes. Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs in up to 15 percent of the elderly-approximately 5.4 million seniors.

Other studies report the prevalence to be 15 to 25 percent. In addition, infants, children and middle-aged adults become B12 deficient for a variety of reasons. For instance, infants may develop B12 deficiency if their mother is B12 deficient while breastfeeding. In younger people B12 deficiency can mimic postpartum depression/psychosis and autistic-like symptoms in children.

Groups of people at high risk for B12 deficiency include vegans, vegetarians, alcoholics, people with eating disorders, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, those who have had gastric bypass surgery, and those who suffer from autoimmune diseases and AIDS. The use of certain medications such as proton pump inhibitors, metformin, H-2 blockers and nitrous oxide can also cause B12 deficiency.

Visit your doctor if you have any symptoms.

Source
Alabama Department of Public Health