Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to a variety of symptoms, some of which could be overlooked.
The condition occurs when a lack of the vitamin, or folate, causes the body to produce abnormally large red blood cells that cannot function properly.
The most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency is pernicious anaemia, where the immune system attacks healthy cells in your stomach, preventing absorption of vitamin B12 from the food you eat.
But the condition can also occur if you lack the vitamin from your diet, for example, if you have a vegan diet and do not take vitamin B12 supplements, as vitamin B12 is found in non vegan foods like meat, salmon, milk and eggs.
According to the British Medical Journal (BMJ), 85 percent of vitamin B12 deficiency cases experience symptoms related to mental health.
Seven mental health related symptoms to look out for are:
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
These symptoms can be mistaken for mental health problems. But left to carry on, complications could occur.
The NHS explains: “Complications can occasionally develop, particularly if you have been deficient in either vitamin for some time.”
One of the complications is infertility. The health body says: “Vitamin B12 deficiency can sometimes lead to temporary infertility, an inability to conceive.
“This usually improves with appropriate vitamin B12 treatment.”
Another complication is stomach cancer. The health body warns: “If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency caused by pernicious anaemia, a condition where your immune system attacks healthy cells in your stomach, your risk of developing stomach cancer is increased.”
Vitamin B12 deficiency is usually treated with injections of vitamin B12, called hydroxocobalamin.
If the condition is caused by a lack of the vitamin in your diet, you may be advised to take vitamin B12 tablets every day between meals.