Vitamin B12 - Ideal Foot & Ankle Group (2024)

FAQs

What are the signs of B12 deficiency in your feet? ›

Neurological symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can include:

Numbness or tingling in your hands and feet. Vision problems. Having a hard time remembering things or getting confused easily.

It's unclear whether taking vitamin B-12 supplements can help treat diabetic neuropathy. Some small studies suggest that these supplements can ease diabetic neuropathy pain and other symptoms. But the supplements might help only if your body is low on vitamin B-12.

It's fast-acting, efficient, and leads to improvement in patient recovery within just a couple of sessions. The required doses of Vitamin B12 for neuropathy in adults are: 1000mcg daily over five days. 1000mcg weekly over five weeks.

There is no upper limit for vitamin B12 intake because consuming high levels does not cause problems. However, having naturally high levels of vitamin B12 in the body may be a cause for concern, as it suggests a severe underlying condition.

Key points about vitamin B12 deficiency anemia

Without enough red blood cells, your tissues and organs don't get enough oxygen. Without enough oxygen, your body can't work as well. Symptoms include weak muscles, numbness, trouble walking, nausea, weight loss, irritability, fatigue, and increased heart rate.

Vitamin B12 is important for making DNA and red blood cells, as well as for developing the central nervous system. Too little B12 in your body can affect your bones, hair, skin, nails, energy level, mood, and memory.

Conditions affecting the stomach

Some stomach conditions or stomach operations can prevent the absorption of enough vitamin B12. For example, a gastrectomy, a surgical procedure where part of your stomach is removed, increases your risk of developing a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Additionally, there is no way that you will overdose on B12, so don't worry about taking too much. This number is also higher in certain European countries as well as the fact that vitamin B12's benefits have been speculated to be even more widespread than traditionally thought.

Summary: As summarized in the table provided, vitamin B12 (cobalamin) absorption and utilization by the body can be compromised with the chronic use of certain medications which include: colchicine, chloramphenicol, ethanol, histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2RA), metformin, and proton pump inhibitors (PPI).

Does drinking water lower B12 levels? ›

"As you intake more water you can begin to flush water soluble vitamins and minerals," Dr. Kinney told INSIDER. "Water soluble vitamins, such as the B Vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B6 & B12) & vitamin C, are not stored long term and may be excreted with excess water intake if you're not taking in proper supplementation, too.

Typically, excess vitamin B12 exits the body through urine and does not pose serious toxicity concerns. However, there is some research that indicates those with kidney function loss due to diabetes may experience quicker kidney deterioration when they take high doses of vitamin B supplements.

Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia is usually treated with injections of vitamin B12, called hydroxocobalamin. At first, you'll have these injections every other day for 2 weeks or until your symptoms have started improving. Your GP or nurse will give the injections.

Others test B12 in combination with other vitamins, and there are at-home micronutrient test kits that include B12 in the panel. These kits may be purchased online and include the materials you need to obtain a sample of blood using a finger prick, which you return to the manufacturer for testing.

Skin lesions associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair changes. Cutaneous lesions that do not respond to conventional therapy can be an indication of vitamin B12 deficiency. Malabsorption is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency.