Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
The onset of vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms may take several years, and the diagnosis can be complicated. Occasionally, a vitamin B12 deficiency is confused for a folate deficiency. Low levels of vitamin B12 can cause a decline in folate levels. Nonetheless, if you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, sustaining low folate levels will only mask the deficiency, and you will be unable to treat the underlying condition. The following are nine symptoms and indications of a vitamin B12 deficiency:
White epidermis
People with a vitamin B12 deficiency often appear pallid or have a yellowish tint to their skin, and the whites of their eyes resemble jaundice. When a deficiency in vitamin B12 impedes your body’s ability to produce red blood cells, you develop pale complexion. Vitamin B12 is essential for the production of DNA, which aids in the production of red blood cells. Without sufficient DNA formation, however, the instructions to construct red blood cells remain incomplete and the cells are unable to divide further, resulting in megaloblastic anemia. Megaloblastic anemia is characterized by fragile, enlarged red blood cells produced by the bone marrow. These red blood cells are too large to traverse the bone marrow and penetrate the bloodstream. Consequently, there are fewer red blood cells in circulation, and your skin may appear pallid. Additionally, the fragility of red blood cells indicates that many of them will eventually rupture, resulting in an excess of bilirubin. Bilirubin is a brownish-red substance secreted by the liver to degrade red blood cells. Additionally, excessive quantities of bilirubin give the skin a yellowish hue.
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