Vitamin B12 and Fatigue

How is fatigue linked to vitamin B-12 deficiency? 

• ·        Body requires vitamin B-12 in order to produce red blood cells.
• ·        Red blood cells carry energy (oxygen) throughout the body. 
• Low oxygen -low energy 
• So you feel low-energy because your red blood cells are low-energy!

Other than diet, the most common cause of B-12 deficiency is pernicious anemia .  In pernicious anemia, the body stops producing intrinsic factor,necessary for absorbing vit B12 from ileum.  The most common reason is plain old age – the parietal cells atrophy, found commonly in gastroduodenoscopy and just stop making IF.

 Incidence:
more commonly found in those of northern European descent and Africans (southern Europeans and Asians are less effected),

occurs in equally amongst men and women,

seems to run in families, so if you have a family member with it you are much more at risk,

is frequently seen with autoimmune disorders (particularly those affecting the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenals).

Aside from fatigue, the other symptoms of pernicious anemia related B-12 deficiency   Dizziness, ringing in the ears, pale or yellowish skin,  sore and brightly red tongue, loss of appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, and abdominal cramping, numbness, tingling, or burning in the arms, legs, hands, and feet, muscle weakness, irritability, confusion, depression and more.