Symptom Guide For Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vision Loss

Vitamin B12 is among the eight components that make the vitamin B complex. Vitamin B12, which is found in milk and its products, eggs, fish, poultry, and meat, plays a vital role in sustaining proper brain function, DNA synthesis, protein metabolism, and protection of the nerves. Human liver can store five hundred times the amount of vitamin B12 we need, so dietary deficiency alone is rare.

However, when vitamin B12 levels go low, it can cause damage to the nerves, including the optic nerve that relays information from the eyes to the brain. The information relayed by the optic nerve includes color, brightness, and contrast. If the functioning of the optic nerve is impaired, our vision is impacted. Vision loss as a result of vitamin B12 deficiency may start with colors becoming less bright. The vision loss is gradual, and it may initially affect one eye or both. The nerve damage could be due to insufficient blood and nutrients reaching the optic nerve or by inflammation of the nerve.

Numbness Or Tingling

The numbness or tingling sensations can occur due to nerve damage resulting from a severe vitamin B12 deficiency. The nerves in the body are covered by a protective sheath known as myelin. Vitamin B12 is an important contributor in the metabolic pathway leading to the production of myelin.

If there is not enough vitamin B12 in the body, the protective sheath is produced differently where it fails to protect the nerve ending from damage by free radicals. A burning sensation on various parts of the body is among the signs the nerves have lost their protective sheath. The numbness and tingling are mostly felt in the hands and the feet. With that said, the sensation of pins and needles may have many causes, so other symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency must be present for an accurate diagnosis.