Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia is a condition in which your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells, due to a lack of vitamin B12. A study published in the National Library of Medicine says vitamin B12 is one of the important nutritional components that affect oral health.
It says: “Individuals with decreased levels of vitamin B12 have been reported to exhibit various oral manifestations such as glossitis, glossodynia, recurrent ulcers, cheilitis, dysgeusia, lingual paresthesia, burning sensations, and pruritus.”
The researchers also say that more than 60 percent of vitamin B12 deficiency patients with oral signs and symptoms were non-anemic and normocytic, “suggesting the importance of more detailed blood screening in this patient group”.
The Mayo Clinic says: “Most people get enough vitamin B12 from a balanced diet. However, older adults, vegetarians, vegans and people who have conditions that affect their ability to absorb vitamin B12 from foods might benefit from the use of oral supplements.”
The NHS warns that it is important for vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia to be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible, as though many of the symptoms improve with treatment, some problems caused by the condition can be irreversible if left untreated.
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The NHS says you may notice irritability, depression, changes in the way you think, feel and behave, and a decline in your mental abilities, such as memory, understanding and judgement.
All types of anaemia, regardless of the cause, can lead to heart and lung complications as the heart struggles to pump oxygen to the vital organs.
A lack of vitamin B12 can cause neurological problems, which affect your nervous system.
The Mayo Clinic says high doses of vitamin B12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause tingling sensation in hands and feet, headache, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea or fatigue or weakness.
The NHS says good sources of vitamin B12 include:
- Meat
- Fish
- Milk
- Cheese
- Eggs
- Some fortified breakfast cereals
The Department of Health and Social Care advises you should be able to get all the vitamin B12 you need by eating a varied and balanced diet.
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