You need vitamin B12 for many important processes inside your body, particularly for making red blood cells and keeping your nerves healthy. If you have a short supply of vitamin B12, your body won't make as many red blood cells, they will be abnormally large and won't last for as long as they should.
If you don't have enough red blood cells, the tissues and organs of your body may not be getting enough oxygen. This leads to the symptoms of anaemia.
The symptoms of vitamin B12 -deficiency anaemia include:
* feeling very tired
* breathlessness after little exercise
* palpitations - the sensation of feeling your heartbeat thumping in your chest
* headaches
* a reduced appetite
* a sore mouth and tongue
If you have vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia, you may also look pale or jaundiced (have a yellowy tinge to your skin and the whites of your eyes).
As well as the symptoms of anaemia, vitamin B12-deficiency may cause symptoms related to your nerves. This is called vitamin B12 neuropathy. It may affect your movement and sensation, especially in your legs, cause numbness or 'pins and needles' and decrease your sensitivity to touch, vibration or pain. It can also cause confusion, depression, poor concentration and forgetfulness.
These symptoms aren't always due to vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia but if you have them, see your GP.
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