{"id":1435,"date":"2018-04-24T09:36:27","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T09:36:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=1435"},"modified":"2021-10-11T02:37:09","modified_gmt":"2021-10-11T02:37:09","slug":"15-most-common-vitamin-b-deficiency-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/15-most-common-vitamin-b-deficiency-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Most Common Vitamin B Deficiency Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"

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B vitamins are responsible for most of what\u2019s keeping our bodies in tip-top shape. B vitamins are excellent antioxidants and are essential nutrients that help keep the body\u2019s central nervous system and blood cells healthy. They even contribute to DNA production, which ensures that our cells are free from damage.<\/p>\n

This is why when you have low levels of vitamin B, it can result in severe consequences, such as \u2014 anemia, dementia, anorexia, and depression. Vitamin B deficiency is characterized by low blood levels of vitamin B. Vitamin B deficiency begins incredibly subtle that you probably won\u2019t even notice it at first. As you grow older, it can become even harder to absorb this vitamin.<\/p>\n

Without early treatment, some of the symptoms can even become permanent. Knowing the early warning signs can prevent you from experiencing the serious repercussions of vitamin B deficiency, and how you can keep your body healthy.<\/p>\n

1. Fatigue<\/h3>\n

Feeling fatigued is a lot different from feeling tired. Fatigue<\/a> is when you are unable to function for more than two hours a day due to extreme exhaustion. This can induce feelings of fogginess and prevent you from staying upright for long periods of time. For most, they experience sudden \u2018crashes\u2019 while in the middle of doing work or even while walking.<\/p>\n

Fatigue is one of the early warning signs of vitamin B deficiency. That\u2019s because vitamin B is necessary for producing red blood cells. When your body doesn\u2019t have enough red blood cells, it can\u2019t transport oxygen throughout your cells and organs. When your body lacks oxygen, it makes you feel tired and lethargic \u2014 even if you had a full night of sleep.<\/p>\n

Doctors usually prescribe vitamin B to individuals with low energy levels. In fact, vitamin B is popularly known as a pick-me-upper for people with fatigue.<\/p>\n

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2. Dizziness<\/h3>\n

If you have been feeling fatigued lately, then you have probably been experiencing dizzying spells as well. The lack of oxygen in your body prevents your brain from functioning smoothly, making you feel foggy and lightheaded. If you have ever yawned a lot in consecutive succession, you have probably felt a bit of vertigo. That is because oxygen is leaving your body, signaling that there are low amounts.<\/p>\n

These feelings of dizziness<\/a> can make you clumsy, preventing you from having full control of your arm and leg movements. For most, it can strike suddenly \u2014 from walking up the stairs to turning behind you. According to ER doctors, patients who come in with symptoms of dizziness are usually deficient in some variant of vitamin B.<\/p>\n

Feelings of dizziness can result in more severe symptoms such as confusion and headaches. If you have recently been feeling dizzy, you might be lacking in vitamin B.<\/p>\n

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3. Pale or Jaundiced Skin<\/h3>\n

Vitamin B<\/a> deficiency is primarily characterized by the presence of pale or yellowish skin. Often, this can even manifest on the whites of the eyes. When you are deficient in vitamin B, your red blood cells become fragile and can be easily damaged. This causes a release of bilirubin pigment which is responsible for giving your skin that tinge of yellow.<\/p>\n

Similarly, when blood cell reproduction is at a low, it could result in a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia. This is when the red blood cells produced in your bone marrow are too large and prone to damage. These red blood cells are then too large to pass through bone marrow, preventing them from entering your circulation.<\/p>\n

So if you have recently noticed your skin turning pale or yellowish, there probably aren\u2019t enough red blood cells circulating in your body. Which means you\u2019re most likely lacking in vitamin B.<\/p>\n

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4. Muscle Weakness<\/h3>\n

Untreated vitamin B deficiency symptoms can potentially damage your nervous system<\/a>. When your nerves suffer from even minimal damage, changes in mobility and strength can occur in your muscles. This can affect your balance and coordination, making you prone to clumsiness and falling.<\/p>\n

Vitamin B helps the body turn food into energy. When your body doesn\u2019t get enough oxygen and energy, your muscles will begin to feel heavy and mushy. This is probably why those groceries feel heavier than usual or why you can\u2019t seem to carry yourself up those stairs.<\/p>\n

Feelings of sluggishness are usually accompanied by fatigue, which often makes it confusing to distinguish. Vitamin B also helps the body fight and prevent infections. If you have a very demanding day-to-day schedule, your body could be beginning to (literally) feel the weight of it all. Simultaneously, your lack of vitamin B could be a contributing factor.<\/p>\n

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5. Tingling and Numbness<\/h3>\n

One of the more long-term effects of vitamin B deficiency is the sensation of numbness and tingling. This is usually described to be similar to the feeling of an electric current rushing from head to toe. For others, it is the numbing feeling of \u2018pins and needles\u2019 in their hands and feet. These strange sensations are a result of nerve damage and can be painful when left untreated for too long.<\/p>\n

This nerve damage is usually triggered by low oxygen levels, which can prevent your nerves from functioning properly. Vitamin B is an important contributor to your metabolic pathway. Your metabolic pathway is responsible for producing myelin, which acts as protection and insulation around your nerves.<\/p>\n

Without vitamin B, myelin won\u2019t produce properly, which explains why you are probably feeling those prickling sensations. These neurological symptoms are usually associated with anemia<\/a>, which can occur due to vitamin B deficiency.<\/p>\n

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6. A Smooth, Inflamed Tongue<\/h3>\n

More than half of people who suffer from severe vitamin B deficiency experience a disappearance of their papillae. Papillae are those little bumps on your tongue which are responsible for how you can taste your food. In layman\u2019s terms \u2014 they\u2019re your taste buds. This can happen when your tongue experiences glossitis.<\/p>\n

Glossitis usually happens because papillae cells are not getting enough oxygen to function properly. Your tongue will change color and shape, often becoming red and swollen. Individuals who suffer from glossitis usually experience a burning sensation<\/a>, particularly on the back of the tongue.<\/p>\n

The inflammation can make your tongue appear smooth and red. This is because the inflammation stretches out the papillae, making them look like they\u2019ve disappeared. An inflamed tongue can affect how you eat and speak. In most cases, people suffer from extreme weight loss due to tastelessness in their food.<\/p>\n

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7. Mood Swings<\/h3>\n

You\u2019re probably not aware of it, but vitamin B deficiency has been linked to the early stages of dementia<\/a> and depression. According to doctors, low levels of vitamin B could potentially cause damage to the brain tissue. This interferes with the signals passing to and from the brain, which results in mood swings. When left untreated, it can promote severe mental disorders such as the ones mentioned above.<\/p>\n

Some studies suggest that vitamin B supplements can prevent these sudden mood changes, reversing symptoms associated with certain mental disorders. This is because vitamin B is involved in synthesizing brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, which helps regulate mood.<\/p>\n

This usually manifests through the early stages of anxiety and depression. Individuals who suffer from this symptom describe these mood swings as abrupt and usually involves extreme feelings of worry. This can also be attributed to feelings of fatigue which can induce mood swings.<\/p>\n

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8. Changes in Vision<\/h3>\n

In some cases, a lack of vitamin B can damage the optic nerves causing blurry vision. Vitamin B is essential in maintaining the central nervous system. When the optic nerves suffer damage, it disrupts the nerves\u2019 signals that travel from your eye to the brain and back. This condition is formally known as optic neuropathy.<\/p>\n

If left untreated, the damage can clog the retina\u2019s<\/a> blood vessels. This can result in double vision, sensitivity to light, and even potential vision loss. The first symptoms of retinal damage usually appear through the presence of a dark shadow in your line of vision.<\/p>\n

To treat this symptom, doctors usually recommend vitamin B injections to rapidly combat the deficiency. For individuals who have already suffered through subsequent vision impairment, doctors will recommend vitamin B supplements and vitamin B-rich foods. However, it is important to address this particular symptom immediately to prevent blood vessel clogging.<\/p>\n

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9. Confusion and Forgetfulness<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019ve recently found yourself forgetting your parents\u2019 age or where you put your car keys, your lack of vitamin B could be the one to blame. Vitamin B plays a vital role in maintaining the brain and nervous system. When left untreated, vitamin B deficiency can lead to brain shrinkage. This results in symptoms such as confusion and poor memory.<\/p>\n

You probably don\u2019t know it, but low levels of vitamin B can result in dementia. Individuals who suffer from early stages of dementia are reported to have significantly lower levels of vitamin B. This induces slowness in thinking and irritability<\/a>. While poor nutrition habits are normally linked to weak memory, getting your essential vitamins could just be the key to a more healthy mind.<\/p>\n

In the long-term, leaving this particular symptom untreated could impair your judgment. This can promote the early stages of dementia.<\/p>\n

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10. Dry Skin and Cracked Lips<\/h3>\n

One of the key benefits of vitamin B is how it preserves the quality of your skin. In any case of deficiency, the first signs will always appear on your skin. Even though vitamin B\u2019s functions are not directly seen by the naked eye, problems involving the skin will be the most obvious. Vitamin B in particular causes severely dry skin.<\/p>\n

Vitamin B deficiency can weaken the skin\u2019s defenses against the sun and other environmental factors. This can ultimately cause acne breakouts, cracked lips, dryness, wrinkles<\/a>, rashes, and an uneven complexion. One of the most common ways to notice vitamin B deficiency is around the corners of your mouth.<\/p>\n

When you\u2019re deficient in vitamin B, inflammatory lesions appear on your mouth that manifest as deep cracks. These cracks may bleed when you speak, eat, or even just open your mouth. If you\u2019ve noticed this symptom, focus on taking vitamin B6.<\/p>\n

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11. Heart Palpitations or Shortness of Breath<\/h3>\n

Most B vitamins are responsible for maintaining normal heart function, preventing heart disease<\/a>, and irregular heartbeats. Unfortunately, you don\u2019t really notice when there\u2019s already something wrong with your heartbeat \u2014 such as heart palpitations. Heart palpitations occur when your heart begins to beat faster than 100 beats per minute.<\/p>\n

Heart palpitations are a common symptom of anemia, which is caused by vitamin B deficiency. Low levels of vitamin B can increase the production of homocysteine, an amino acid found in the blood. Elevated levels of homocysteine increase the risk of stroke and heart disease. In some extreme cases, it can even harm coronary arteries or promote clotting in platelets.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve been experiencing heart palpitations recently, this will normally be accompanied by a variety of symptoms such as anxiety and mood swings. Similarly, this could also be linked to other ailments, so discuss with your doctor on how to improve your overall nutrition levels.<\/p>\n

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12. Persistent Headaches<\/h3>\n

When you are suffering from low levels of vitamin b, severe deficiency can lead to nerve damage. Vitamin B contains three major chemicals: pyridoxine, pyridoxal, and pyridoxamine. Pyridoxine is a vital chemical that is necessary for regulating neurotransmitters<\/a> such as serotonin and norepinephrine, which affects mood. When there is a lack of vitamin B, it can upset chemical balances in the brain, causing migraine attacks.<\/p>\n

Doctors have observed that individuals who suffer from persistent headaches have fewer and less severe migraine attacks when maintaining healthy levels of vitamin B. This also lowers levels of the amino acid, homocysteine. People who suffer from migraines usually have elevated levels of homocysteine. Over time, high levels of homocysteine can contribute to the damaging of arterial walls which can put one at risk of heart disease.<\/p>\n

If left untreated, headaches may contribute to worsening mood swings, anxiety, and other psychological symptoms attributed to vitamin B deficiency.<\/p>\n

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13. Constipation or Diarrhea<\/h3>\n

Vitamin B deficiency can start off as anemia, causing you to feel weak and perpetually exhausted. However, as time passes, these symptoms can elevate and persist in severe cases. In extreme cases, this could potentially result in a persistent upset stomach, which can ultimately lead to constipation and diarrhea<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Having recurring constipation and diarrhea can affect your diet. In most cases, individuals who suffer from this particular symptom report that they have experienced severe weight loss. There have even been cases of alternating constipation and diarrhea. Due to this, it can result in a loss of appetite and persistent abdominal pain.<\/p>\n

When this happens, it can cause serious damage to both your digestive system and the immune system. Some individuals have even become anorexic and\/or anemic because of vitamin B deficiency. This is because their body is already rejecting food and nutrition, further worsening their symptoms of fatigue and muscle weakness.<\/p>\n

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14. Mouth Ulcers or Canker Sores<\/h3>\n

You probably don\u2019t know, but it is possible to have an ulcer inside your mouth. Canker sores<\/a> are small painful ulcers inside the mouth. They are usually inflamed, red patches of skin that can be found on the tongue, the gums, and on the floor of the mouth. Canker sores take about one to two weeks to heal.<\/p>\n

However, if you have been experiencing recurring canker sores by the dozen, your vitamin b deficiency could be the one to blame. Canker sores have various causes such as\u2014 weak immunity, excessive stress, hormonal changes, or vitamin deficiencies. Similarly, if your lips are cracked and dry, it forms a crust around the affected area causing shallow ulcers.<\/p>\n

Immature red blood cells can result in recurrent canker sores because of the lack of oxygen circulating around the body. It can also cause fatigue and stress, which makes the chances of recurring mouth ulcers worse.<\/p>\n

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15. Halitosis a.k.a. Bad Breath<\/h3>\n

Believe it or not, good oral hygiene won\u2019t always prevent you from having gnarly breath \u2014 even if you do brush your teeth three times a day. According to doctors, 10 percent of bad breath cases are not directly from the mouth. Surprisingly, a deficiency in B vitamins can cause bad breath that comes from the stomach.<\/p>\n

B vitamins help the body break down proteins, making energy from food. When the body is low on vitamin B, the enzymes produced to aid in proper digestion in bacteria elimination begin to decrease. This can cause an accumulation of waste in the blood, which can result in bad breath.<\/p>\n

Digestive enzymes<\/a> are the ones behind reducing bloating, indigestion, bad breath, and even gas. Oftentimes, doctors will recommend high-quality probiotic supplements and essential vitamins to naturally combat bad breath. Similarly, a diet packed with vitamin B \u2014 B12 in particular \u2014 can prevent bad breath.<\/p>\n\r\n

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