Dangers of vitamin B12 deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency can occur in all kinds of individuals. It may be of particular concern if you are following a vegan or vegetarian diet, or taking medications that reduce your absorption ability of vitamins. This video looks at what exactly a vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to and the ways in which you can obtain vitamin B12 through your diet or by taking B12 supplements.

This video was created by McMaster University students Dhruvika Joshi, Prabhjot Khabra, Minahil Jabeen and Vanessa Lombardo in collaboration with the McMaster Demystifying Medicine Program.

This video is provided for general and educational information only. Please consult your health care provider for Information about your health.

Copyright McMaster University 2017

#DemystifyingMedicine

References:

1. Bruins Slot, W., Merkus, F. W., Deventer, S. J. H. V., & Tytgat, G. N. (1997). Normalization of plasma vitamin B12 concentration by intranasal hydroxocobalamin in vitamin B12-deficient patients. Gastroenterology, 113, 430-433.

3. Dietary reference intakes for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B b6 s, folate, vitamin B b12 s, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline. (1998) (pp. 306-356). Washington, D.C.

5. Ganeson, S., Thanawala, N., & Hussain, N. (2013). Vitamin B12 deficiency: a treatable cause of developmental delay in infancy. J Paediatric Child Health, 49(4): E348-349. doi: 10.1111/jpc.12158

6. Gropper SS, Smith JL, Groff JL. Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism: Fourth Edition. Boston, MA: Wadsworth (2004).

7. Hashim, O. H., & Adnan, N. A. (1994). Coenzyme, cofactor and prosthetic group — Ambiguous biochemical jargon. Biochemical Education,22(2), 93-94. doi:10.1016/0307-4412(94)90088-4

8. Hvas, A., & Nexo, E. (2006). Diagnosis and treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency. An update. Haematologica, 91(11), 1506-1512.

9. Institute of Medicine (US) Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes. (1998). Dietary reference intakes for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline. National Academies Press (US).

10. Kwong, J. C., Carr, D., Dhalla, I. A., Tom-Kun, D., & Upshur, R. E. (2005). Oral vitamin B 12 therapy in the primary care setting: a qualitative and quantitative study of patient perspectives. BMC family practice, 6(1), 8.

11. . Langan, R. C., & Goodbred, A. J. (2017). Vitamin B 12 Deficiency: Recognition and Management. American Family Physician, 96(6).

13. Møllehave, L. T., Skaaby, T., Simonsen, K. S., Thuesen, B. H., Mortensen, E. L., Sandholt, C. H., ... & Linneberg, A. (2017). Association studies of genetic scores of serum vitamin B12 and folate levels with symptoms of depression and anxiety in two danish population studies. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 71(9), 1054-1060.

15. Niculescu, M., & Zeisel, S. (2002). Diet, Methyl Donors and DNA Methylation: Interactions between Dietary Folate, Methionine and Choline. The Journal of Nutrition,132, 2333-2335.

17. Osimani, A., Berger, A., Friedman, J., Porat-Katz, B. S., & Abarbanel, J. M. (2005). Neuropsychology of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency in elderly dementia patients and control subjects. Journal of geriatric psychiatry and neurology, 18(1), 33-38.

18. Vogiatzoglou, A., Smith, A. D., Nurk, E., Berstad, P., Drevon, C. A., Ueland, P. M., ... & Refsum, H. (2009). Dietary sources of vitamin B-12 and their association with plasma vitamin B-12 concentrations in the general population: the Hordaland Homocysteine Study. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 89(4), 1078-1087.

19. Whitney, E., Rolfes, S., Hammond, G., & Piche, L. (2011). Understanding Nutrition (1st ed., pp. 332-334). Toronto: Nelson Education Ltd.

[lyanna]

Evrybody commenting about the volume need new headphones or to turn up the volume or buy a better phone with high quality speakers because I hear her just fine. And my volume is not all the way up. Thank you for this info !

[PR-qgct]

I have all these symptoms. I asked my doctor to check my B12 and he laughed at me and said I wasn't low on B12. Why do they get mad when we make suggestions?

[samcav]

Excellent video thank you. Ive had tingling in my hands and arms for two years now and heart palpitations and extreme fatigue and its from having low b12 as im vegan and have been so for 4 years. My doctor has only just figured out that this is the cause of all of it. Im so happy to have an answer as this has been playing havoc with my life

[sandishadbolt]

I thought I was dying, before I was diagnosed with Vit B12 deficiency, it felt like my body was shutting down. It was an extreme effort just to walk, I felt absolutely lifeless. Even washing dishes was exerting too much energy. Fortunately I was diagnosed immediately, by my description of the symptoms. Obviously I had to be tested, but my Dr. was correct.
Strangely, shortly before I need a top up of vitamins, I get a craving for cow's milk. As well as extreme fatigue.

[sirpotatohead]

I'm 12 and I could hardly breathe and always tired and never hungry and full for long periods I searched everything then I got a blood test and it said low b12 causes all of those which I have so now I'm having an injection every week for 6 weeks just had my second and I'm praying for my last one to help me because this gives me anxiety and depression

[jennygibbons]

Thanks for the excellent information but the volume is too low. 😊

[elautor]

Great video, it would help a lot if you speak louder or increase the volume somehow, also there's a lot of oportunity for you to make the video simpler and easier to understand. Lots of love, thanks for the vid.

[CardboardRN]

everything i need to know in one vid! greatly put together, thanks!

[jamalhallouli]

Thank you for explaining the dangers of vitamin 12 deficiencies.

[jennygibbons]

So grateful for your video which covers much more than I’ve seen on other sites. Thank you very much.

[brisvegas]

I remember when I was younger, times were tough with depression and anxiety. I started eating fresh rosemary with cherry tomatoes and my symptoms cleared up. 🙃

[echase]

I find it shocking and sad that my mother’s nursing home considers a B12 level of 220 to be acceptable. It’s so hard to battle against the whole system of geriatric medicine to appreciate that some require higher levels to have optimal health.

[Mrunal]

B12 deficiency cause your blood pressure to drop and you feel dizziness and fatigue.

[NewbergUSA]

Many doctors don't know: Low B12 can also be the result of insufficient
vitamin D. Your body needs vitamin D in order to absorb the B12 in your
food. If you live above latitude 35 deg, in cloudy overcast or wintery
type places and/or don't get outdoors then you are likely on the low
side for vitamin D. Most older folks don't get much sunlight regardless
of where they live and will be low D. So get your D level tested or
just assume you are D low and take 1000-2000 IU per day along with
eating meats.

[MRife-rguv]

This video needs to be updated. A maintenance injection given only every 1 -3 months are for people who have a very *mild* form of genetic B12 deficiency. Moderate to severe cases require maintenance doses ranging from 1x per month, or 1x every two weeks, or even 1x per week depending on the severity. Please make sure you have your information together before stating something so careless that it could kill someone who relies on this info. Thank you.

[thegreatarkanum]

Great video very informative but very low volume hard to hear still thumbs up 👍🏻

[drsitamindbodycare]

Supplements containing Adenosyl cobalamin and Methyl cobalamin are better than cyano cobalamin and hydroxycobalamin

[UpgradeyourHealth]

I greatly appreciate your video, which delves into topics beyond what I've encountered on other platforms. Thank you sincerely.

[susiebella]

Can't hear properly :( your voice is too low !

[karlenebernard]

B12 help me with my nerves problem i have 3 slip disc pinch nerver witch cause numbness tinglin in hands n feet lots of pain allover my body.at times i feel weary weak n tired all those improve thank God❤❤❤