What Is It? Vitamin B12 is needed to produce an adequate amount
of healthy red blood cells in the bone marrow. Vitamin B12 is
available only in animal foods (meat and dairy products) or
yeast extracts (such as brewer's yeast). Vitamin B12 deficiency
is defined by low levels of stored B12 in the body that can
result in anemia, a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can develop for the following reasons:
Symptoms tend to develop slowly and may not be recognized
immediately. As the condition worsens, common symptoms include:
If low levels of B12 remain for a long time, the condition also
can lead to irreversible damage to nerve cells, which can cause
the following symptoms: Your doctor will ask you about your diet
and about any family history of anemia. Your doctor also will
review your medical history for medical illnesses (diabetes,
immune disorders) or surgeries, such as stomach removal, that
can lead to B12 deficiency. Your doctor may suspect that you
have vitamin B12 deficienc