- Light-headedness and dizziness: You may feel wobbly if you get up too fast from a sitting position. Frequent bouts of vertigo are also common.
- Yellowing of the skin and eyes: Due to a lack of red blood cells, a B12 deficiency often results in a pale, yellowish complexion.
- Pain and weakness: Ever heard the term “pins and needles?” Well, that’s just what you’ll feel – tingling and numbness – throughout your body.
- Vision issues: In extreme cases, a deficiency can damage the optic nerve or plug up the blood vessels in the retina, in turn causing blurry vision, double vision, and sensitivity to light, even loss.
But it doesn’t stop there. If levels remain chronically low, vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to irreversible damage such as difficulty walking and dementia. Severe depression and psychosis may also occur.
Here’s how to combat low levels of B12:
- Eat a well-balanced diet: You can eat a ton of veggies and still not get enough vitamin B12. Try shellfish, fortified soy, red meat, low-fat dairy, cheese, and eggs.
- Recommendation from Harvard Health Letter: It’s recommended that vegetarians and older people with atrophic gastritis take a multivitamin, eat fortified breakfast cereal, or both.
- If you’re experiencing symptoms or believe you’re at-risk: Ask your doctor about getting a B12 blood test and a treatment plan if necessary.