What Is Vitamin B12 Deficiency? Simple Facts You Should Know
Vitamin B12 is a very important vitamin that helps your body make red blood cells, keeps your brain working well, and gives you energy.
Sometimes, people don’t have enough Vitamin B12. This is called Vitamin B12 deficiency. It can make you feel tired, weak, or have other problems.
What Causes Vitamin B12 Deficiency?
Your body gets Vitamin B12 mostly from animal foods like meat, fish, eggs, and milk. Some reasons you might not have enough B12 are:
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Not eating enough animal foods (like if you are vegan or vegetarian)
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Problems with your stomach or digestion (some illnesses or surgery)
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Getting older (your body absorbs less B12)
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Taking certain medicines for a long time
What Are the Signs?
If you don’t have enough Vitamin B12, you might feel:
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Very tired or weak
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Pins and needles or numbness in your hands or feet
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Trouble walking or keeping balance
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Memory problems or feeling confused
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Pale skin or a sore tongue
If you notice these, it’s good to see a doctor.
How Does the Doctor Check?
Doctors can do a simple blood test to check your Vitamin B12 levels.
How Do You Fix It?
If you don’t have enough Vitamin B12, your doctor might suggest:
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Eating more foods with Vitamin B12 (meat, eggs, milk)
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Taking Vitamin B12 pills or injections (shots)
Good Foods to Eat for Vitamin B12
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Meat (like beef or chicken)
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Fish (like salmon or tuna)
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Eggs
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Milk and cheese
If you don’t eat these foods, there are special vitamins you can take.

Who Should Be Careful?
You might need to check your Vitamin B12 if you:
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Don’t eat animal foods
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Feel tired for no reason
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Have tingling or numbness in your hands or feet
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Have stomach problems
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Are older than 60 years
Remember:
Vitamin B12 is very important for your body and brain. If you feel tired or have strange feelings in your hands or feet, talk to a doctor. It’s easy to check and treat!
Take care of your health — Vitamin B12 matters!