Over the last few months the importance of vitamin B12 and the effects of its deficiency for the health have been greatly discussed in media. The lack of any nutrient poses a great risk of developing many health issues. In the long term such deficiencies and the resulting problems can be irreversible. Nonetheless, the attention to vitamin B12 is well – deserved. 

Also known as the activity vitamin, W12 takes part in many bodily functions and processes. It is responsible for:

The vitamin also has a major role in the formation of myelin, as well as the production of red blood cells. Myelin is an insulator that creates a special protective layer around the nerve endings and lets them communicate with each other. This is why deficiency of B12 has direct impact on the nervous system and all of its functions. On the other hand, if the body is lacking the nutrient, it might experience difficulty producing red blood cells. This can lead to a great deal of problems. Insufficient number of erythrocytes is the basis of anemia. In the case of vitamin B12, its lack can cause megaloblastic anemia (a disease, in which red blood cells are not enough and the existing ones increase their size dramatically in order to compensate the deficit).

At first glance the list looks really long. Is it really possible for one nutrient to have such a dramatic effect on the overall health? The answer is simple – all organs and systems in the body are connected. The body lacks something it uses compensatory mechanisms in order to restore the balance. This kind of substitution lets us maintain a normal life, but at the same time it can mask certain shortages. Initially it seems that everything is okay, but when you take e closer look you will find out that there is a problem, which threatens your life in the long run. 

 The latter is very relevant to vitamin B12 as it is primarily stored in tissues, the liver and the kidneys, which truly makes it hard to identify a deficit. In other words, even if you are lacking the nutrient, years can pass by before you realize the problem. Nevertheless, you will be experiencing the negative impact of the deficit without even realizing it. And there are great many symptoms, which affect different systems of the body and develop with time. Early symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are primarily linked to the nervous system:

Other symptoms that might indicate deficit of B12 include diarrhea or constipation, pale skin complexion, swollen tongue, bleeding gums. Unfortunately, specialists identify a B12 deficit in babies more and more. Among the youngest symptoms are associated mainly with movement disorders, developmental delay and anemia (primarily megaloblastic).