The human body is designed to have the ability to absorb, store, and use minerals and vitamins. However, there are instances in one’s lifestyle and diet when it becomes a little too hard to get the right amount of certain nutrients. It is situations like these that cause deficiency to set in.
Lack of exposure to sunlight, for instance, can be cause for Vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is crucial for building strong bones. A diet that is low on vegetables and fruits can end up in Vitamin C shortage. Vitamin C is critical in maintaining a healthy immune system.
One very common vitamin that a lot of people tend to be deficient from is Vitamin B12. Needed to maintain a healthy nervous system and healthy blood flow, the NHS estimated that the deficiency affects 1 in every 10 people who are aged 75 and above, as well as 1 on every 20 people between the ages of 65 to 74.
Found only in animal products, it can be difficult to source especially for those that are adhering to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle. In order to counter this, certain foods are being fortified with the vitamin. Another way of doing so is to take in supplements daily. Also called cobalamin, it is a water-soluble vitamin which means that it can’t be stored in the fat cells. Whatever amount that the body is unable to use gets flushed out.
People that lack this vitamin in their body are likely to experience such symptoms as lack of energy, extreme tiredness, red tongue, pins and needles, disturbed vision, mouth ulcers, psychological problems, and even muscle weakness. As with any medical issue though, if you think that you may be suffering from a lack of vitamin B12 in your system, setting up an appointment with your GP is necessary to be able to determine what your next step should be to address this.
As for the causes of the deficiency, there could be many. Often, this has something to do with the complex process of absorption involved in the vitamin as well as the likely interference from numerous possible sources. Among the risk factors that can cause deficiency include a decreased intake of animal products, breastfeeding by a mother who is deficient in the vitamin, or following a vegan diet.
In addition, older individuals may have conditions that likely end up interfering with the proper absorption of the vitamin. This includes stomach inflammation, halted or reduced stomach acid production, as well as excess alcohol among others.
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If you are concerned about the possibility of deficiency, it is important to go see your GP. They can get your vitamin levels checked through a blood test. Then, they can map out the right course of action for you to get the deficiency corrected. Learn more about the importance of vitamins and minerals in the body by reading about Dr Toby Ikwueke online. You can also connect with Dr Toby Ikwueke on LinkedIn here.
Dr Toby Ikwueke 