Is your vitamin B12 level low? Here’s how to find out!

Written by: Mantasha Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra

[{"selector":"#anim-ea54d962-5175-49e8-8129-7a38f705fbdb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dcb0fc0f-ecad-4cc3-bda9-f879a7dd2e55","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.19330%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] If you're wondering whether your vitamin B12 levels are low, here are some signs to look out for and ways to confirm: Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Signs You Might Have Low Vitamin B12

[{"selector":"#anim-6287b8fc-4110-450c-8915-2835263d6711","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-98945c42-c810-4d58-a118-77200a1844e0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 273.85616%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Fatigue

[{"selector":"#anim-c6c87741-5a67-41c2-ad95-8db72785ca04","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb9457fa-c92f-4c87-976c-878ab0fcccf9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 167.95226%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-152e2b77-9856-4b89-94d0-a3add8af425c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a0d11aed-702e-42c1-a058-85e0033d4d22","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 645.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Feeling unusually tired or weak can be a sign, as B12 plays a key role in energy production. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Pale or Jaundiced Skin

[{"selector":"#anim-e62fe7a1-2e2f-459f-9535-a06a4d41ea6e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-19e023a5-8b1d-457c-922e-2f2be41fc419","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 145.63817%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c7415fce-e631-4365-8831-84c4eecda14f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-30ef2726-7154-4344-8448-33ef940c80a7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 359.15021%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Low B12 can lead to a reduction in red blood cell production, causing pale or yellowish skin. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Tingling or Numbness

[{"selector":"#anim-72ccf466-39a3-4b51-877d-6595e1426921","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1aa4a1d6-0b1f-4bb6-a60b-381aa3385f70","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.16712%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5b9aebb9-299f-47b9-b54e-05152e3c35ff","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5200f132-642e-47eb-9ebb-0bf73e287ac3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 614.50653%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Vitamin B12 deficiency can affect nerve function, leading to tingling or numbness in the hands and feet. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Mood Changes

[{"selector":"#anim-65ae24fc-3c0b-49e7-81d4-f2ed7c2f6329","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8de8882-e932-432c-8efe-2e66fe1d5421","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 202.29100%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d3a862b-96a5-404f-a5f3-298c295d5b7d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-333004e7-3361-4331-876e-b9dfb919a365","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 620.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Symptoms like depression, irritability, or anxiety can also be linked to B12 deficiency. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

How to Confirm

[{"selector":"#anim-1345b7e2-b06d-4101-a7c7-6e5fe431fd0d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b33238aa-41d4-41af-9c02-5e3da6004abb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 506.17314%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Blood Test

[{"selector":"#anim-fb1282dc-00e5-46eb-b93a-3137baabc248","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aef00f0c-c078-496c-8393-9147e77bf5ca","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 131.30719%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fccda4eb-1594-4168-a8fb-895ae2e92c10","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6973aae0-ead4-4aa0-8f03-b190d7716486","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 697.83992%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The most reliable way to check your B12 levels is through a blood test. Your doctor can measure your serum B12 levels to confirm if you're deficient. Methylmalonic Acid (MMA) Test Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Remember

[{"selector":"#anim-c94d0a14-2d80-4a12-bbbb-a92b7eacaff3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-423e5709-49ed-49f9-8aa0-5902f33206b1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 152.89190%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5a1503b-1bf3-475c-979f-f436888af230","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4c2bf7c-680a-4f29-af98-4b2fd9ced4dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 697.83992%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] If you're experiencing any of these symptoms or suspect low B12, it's a good idea to consult with a healthcare provider for proper testing and advice on treatment. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Tap on that love ❤️ button. Stay tuned for what’s coming next!

[{"selector":"#anim-900155e5-59f8-4398-9174-a91285a9e250","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aefeb5a1-b6a1-49f7-a14f-b771768734d3","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, -2404.52788%, 0) rotate(270deg)","rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(270deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow