There is a new bandwagon in town, Vitamin B12. These days we aren’t looking for occult deficiency signs and symptoms of B12 but a group of more popular symptoms. Changes in Taste, Balance, Tinnitus and Energy feature high on the list. 

If you are low in energy you may have an underlying anaemia caused by low B12. Megaloblastic and Pernicious Anaemias are associated in less than 20% of cases with the later being an auto-immune disease. 

B12 is even muscling in on the mental health of people having an impact on Depression and Anxiety. Don’t miss your chance to get checked with your GP. 

The spine is also involved as low B12 can be involved with cervical radiculopathy (neck nerve root) that gives sensation oddness in the arms including possible numbness. This type of nerve root issue would likely be associated with headaches or migraines.

For those proactive people out there who like to look after their health themselves in addition to NHS services, there are a few lab tests to check to make sure your B12 level is sufficient. 

B12 serum, Homocysteine (Hcy) + Folate and Methylmalonic Acid (MMA). The first test is obvious, the second is affected by other B vitamins hence requiring the third test for a full picture of B12. MMA is not affected by other B vitamins.

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References:

1. VitaminB12. BMJ2023;383:e071725