What Are Symptoms of B-12 Deficiency?

These are just some of the characteristic signs of vitamin B-12 deficiency, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Fatigue, weakness, nausea, constipation, irritability, incontinence,
dementia, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, loss of appetite,
paleness, shortness of breath...

Untreated, the symptoms can become permanent and lead to abnormalities of growth and mental retardation in children and severe systemic disorders in adults.

Clinical Manifestations of Vitamin B-12 Deficiency

Hematologic	Megaloblastic anemia Pancytopenia (leucopenia, thrombocytopenia)
Neurologic	Parethesias Peripheral neuropathy Combined systems disease (demyelination of dorsal columns and corticospinal tract)
Psychiatric	Irritability, personality change Mild memory impairment, dementia Depression Psychosis
Cardiovascular	Increased risk of myocardial infarction and stroke

Source: Vitamin B-12 Deficiency Published in American Family Physician , Vol. 67, No. 5

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