Are You B12 Deficient?

Vitamin B12 is a critical nutrient used by the body in nearly every system. It’s primarily associated with maintaining a healthy metabolism, which is how our body makes and uses energy. When you’re B12 deficient, it can affect you in a variety of ways – many of them seemingly unrelated. This can make it hard to diagnose B12 deficiency, especially since standard lab work doesn’t typically include testing for B12 levels. So, how can you tell if you have insufficient B12? Let’s go over some of the warning signs and what you can do about it.

What Role Does Vitamin B12 Play In The Body?

B12 has many important jobs, some of which include the formation of red blood cells, supporting the nervous system, and cell metabolism. It would be impossible to discuss all the ways the body needs B12 in the space of this article, so we’ll just stick to these examples. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout your body. As a result, the role of B12 in their creation is critical. We also depend on our metabolism to properly manage our energy for daily living. Because B12 is involved in a wide range of biochemical processes, the effects of deficiency show up in a myriad of ways.

What Are Some Signs You Could Be Vitamin B12 Deficient?

The most common symptom of B12 deficiency is fatigue. Remember, this is related to the role that B12 plays in regulating our metabolism (energy) and the production of red blood cells. In addition, people also report issues like vision problems, mood swings, loss of appetite, and memory issues/brain fog. Fortunately, most of these symptoms can be reversed if caught early and levels are brought into a healthy range.

How Do You Get B12?

Vitamin B12 is found in animal foods like meat and dairy. But, it can also be found in small quantities in some fortified foods like cereal and bread. If you’re suffering from deficiency, we can get those levels up quickly with B12 injections. This is the most effective way – even beyond oral capsules – because it bypasses the digestive system and goes straight to work in the blood.

If you think you might have B12 deficiency, schedule a consultation with us. We will go over your symptoms and health history and help you decide if injections would be helpful. Contact us today to get started.