The human body needs nutrient in order to keep it healthy and survive longer. Out of different essential vitamins for the human body and health, Vitamin B12 is a vital one as it plays a key role in the functionality of both physical and psychological health. Does vitamin B12 deficiency lead to weight gain or not is a very common query among people which will be discussed later in this article.
The importance of Vitamin B12 is greater than any other nutrients because the human body itself cannot create this vitamin so they have to remain dependent on some outer sources to get this vital nutrient for their body. This is a water-soluble vitamin which is also known as Cobalamin.
This particular B group of the vitamin is essential for the formation of red blood cells, DNA synthesis, energy production and for smoother functioning of the brain and nervous system. This is the reason if anyone’s body lacks this vital vitamin they started to develop several symptoms.
People whose body has enough level of vitamin B12 have improved memory system, better concentration level, and strong immunity power. Moreover, it can also delay the aging process by keeping your skin rejuvenated and delaying the different aging signs.
This vital vitamin is used in the treatment of several diseases such as anemia, bowel diseases, swollen tendons, diabetes, heart disorders, AIDS and depression.
In the cases of vitamin B12 deficiency there becomes a reduction of the required number of healthy red blood cells. As a result of an adequate number of red blood cells which is vital for good circulation of oxygen throughout the body, different body organs started getting affected as they lose their health over time.
This causes to develop different symptoms such as chronic fatigue, nerve issues, low mood, etc. Some common food sources which are rich in this particular vitamin include dairy products, fishes and meats.
Though one can fulfill vitamin B12 need by consuming such dietary sources but in many cases, the grabbing of this essential vitamin doesn’t take place the way it requires.
Due to the digestion problem and processing insufficiency, the body often lacks Vitamin B12 even though there was no scarcity of dietary sources in daily diet routine.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is one of the most common nutrient or vitamin deficiency problems which can happen to anyone at any point in time of life which must not be overlooked.
Does Vitamin B12 Deficiency Lead To Weight Gain?
Table of Contents
The simple answer to this question is absolutely not, the deficiency of Vitamin B12 is no way associated with the weight gain. Yes, its deficiency can lead to sudden and unplanned weight loss that is easily noticeable in the eyes of others.
Some people who suddenly lose weight without any explainable reason initially feels good by the reduction of their body weight bur remember weight loss without your active intervention is always an alarming sign that must not be overlooked.
In the lack of adequate Vitamin B12, people started suffering from indigestion as it affects their digestible health and frequent nausea problem occur. This leads to loss of appetite, vomiting and your body loses its ability to absorb nutrients from diet intake which further leads to weight loss.
This simply clear that Vitamin B12 deficiency has no role in weight gain instated it can be said responsible for losing unexplainable weight. However, the steps which are taken to fulfill this deficiency of this vitamin-like increasing your diet intake especially foods rich in Vitamin B12 can indirectly cause you to gain some weight.
The possibility lies that you may build body muscles if you increase your daily life physical activities along with increasing your diet level however that is not a weight gain symbol.
This can be said as a healthy weight and it doesn’t cause you obese unless you started eating unusually and out of limit. It can be said that the very first impression of Vitamin B12 deficiency in your body is weight loss not the weight gain under any circumstances.
Signs or Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Due to Vitamin B12 deficiency, the cell division gets reduced. As a result of a reduction in the cell division, the red blood cells get enraged and further damaged by your own immunity system. This single vitamin deficiency in the body leads to the growth of several noticeable symptoms which are mentioned below:
Mental Health Problems
As the deficiency of Vitamin B12 affects the brain functionality directly so it causes to develop several psychological health symptoms. A person deficient with this vitamin can develop several behavioral symptoms as it affects their mood which leads to irritability and depression.
As per one study report, Vitamin B12 plays a key role in breaking down one brain chemical known as homocysteine. However, when deficiency happens this breakage process gets restricted resulting in excess accumulation of homocysteine in the brain which may cause different mental health issues.
Breathing Shortness
As a result, Vitamin B12 deficiency in the body the formation of red blood cells reduces which affects different vital functionalities which are important for survival. Breathing shortness or difficulty in breathing smoothly is one of the effects of the reduction in red blood cells count.
Anemia which is caused by Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to the fast heartbeat and shortness of breath which requires immediate medical attention.
Fast Heart Beat
As a result of long term deficiency of Vitamin B12, your normal heartbeat rate may increase and faster heart rate or beat becomes more usual. This particularly happens because your heart tries to compensate for the reduction in red blood cells counts in the body by beating up faster.
A body affected with anemia disease creates extra pressure on the heart so that it can circulate an excess volume of blood throughout the body at the quickest possible time so that the level of oxygen remains adequate all over the body for the functionality of all the organs.
Hence this pressure causes fast heart rate which is no way good for the heart health and needs medical consultation.
Difficulty in Thinking or Reasoning
The lack of an adequate amount of Vitamin B12 in the body can give birth to cognitive impairment. As a result of this disease, the patient’s ability to thinking and reasoning get affected badly. Also, memory loss is a part of this impairment.
Long term deficiency of this vital vitamin can even lead to major mental health concerns such as Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease as per one study report.
This particularly happens because your brain doesn’t get the necessary amount of oxygen which hampers your memory and thinking or reasoning power where you need to be quick.
Oral Health Problems
The lack of Vitamin B12 also affects a person’s oral health. As a result of this deficiency, a person may develop some oral health issues such as burning sensation in the mouth, ulcers in the mouth, glossitis that leads to the red, smooth and swollen tongue and pain.
All these symptoms develop because the deficiency of Vitamin B12 affects the formation of red blood cells and reduction in the red blood cells affects the adequate oxygen level in tongue hence different oral health problems generate.
Pale Skin Color
The deficiency of Vitamin B12 in the body may lead to pale or yellow skin color in the affected person which is a symptom of Jaundice disease. This particular disease develops when anyone’s body fails in producing an adequate level of red blood cells.
Hence the reduction in the red blood cells affects the oxygen circulation under the overall body skin which is essential for maintaining the normal skin color. Resulting in skin started looking pale in the lack of red blood cells.
As the reduction of red blood cells gives birth to Megaloblastic Anemia which is very much linked with Jaundice disease growth. Also, this type of anemia disease can easily weaken the existing red blood cells which are more prone to get breaks down easily.
The cases where the weak red blood cells are breaks down by the liver it releases bilirubin which is a brownish color substance. This substance again gives yellowish color to your skin which is defined as Jaundice disease in medical terms.
Loss of Appetite and Weight Reduction
The Vitamin B12 deficiency in the body affects your digestive function that gives birth to indigestion, nausea, and loss of appetite. A prolonged decrease in appetite leave leads to a noticeable reduction in overall body weight. So weight loss that happens without your active steps or an unexplainable weight loss is a primary indication of this vital vitamin deficiency in the body.
Difficulty in Walking
The long term Vitamin B12 deficiency which causes a major reduction of red blood cells vital for nerve system functionality leads to peripheral nerve damage.
As a result of this damage, the movement of the body gets restricted and the affected person can notice trouble or difficulty in walking. Numbness in limbs and feet occurs that causes difficulty in walking without proper support. Also, it can cause weaker muscles and reduced reflexes.
Tingling Sensation in Hands and Feet
Vitamin B12 deficit can lead to a tingling sensation in hands and feet which feels like pins and needles. This issue occurs because of the lack of this vital vitamin affects the functionality of the nervous system. Hence its scarcity in the body causes nerve damages and nerve conduction issues.
Vitamin B12 helps in the formation of vital substance myelin which is a protective coating and layer of the nerves. This protective layer not only protects nerves from damaging risks but also helps in the transmission of sensation.
So if anyone suffers from the deficit of this nerves health-friendly vitamin their risk of nerve-damaging are quite high in the lack of the myelin coating. Usually, the nerve-damaging happens in hands and feet which are also known as peripheral nerves. Resulting in tingling sensation develops in the hands and feet area.
Fatigue
The deficit of Vitamin B12 can develop its symptoms in the form of chronic fatigue in the affected person. The constant feeling of tiredness and exhaustion simply indicates the vitamin B12 deficiency in the body.
Megaloblastic anemia which results from Vitamin B12 deficiency affects the smoother and adequate oxygen flow throughout the body due to a reduction in red blood cells formation. Hence in the lack of proper oxygen flow feeling of tiredness and fatigue is normal.
Causes
The deficiency of Vitamin B12 can happen to anyone due to the following reasons:
Pernicious Anaemia
Pernicious Anaemia is the most common cause responsible for Vitamin B12 deficiency in the body. This disease is an immune condition which occurs due to lack of a protein also known as intrinsic factor requires for the absorption of Vitamin B12 by the body from the food sources. This condition is more common among older adults.
Vegetarian Diet
People who are hardcore vegetarian means follow the vegetarian diet routine very strictly contains a greater risk of developing the deficiency of Vitamin B12. It is because this particular vitamin is found in fishes, meat, eggs, and dairy products.
Others
Apart from the above causes, some health condition in the body increases your likelihood of developing Vitamin B12 deficiency such as stomach ulcers, gastritis, bacterial growth, Crohn’s disease, and coeliac disease.
Treatment
Mostly the deficiency of Vitamin B12 is treated by increasing the consumption of the dietary sources of this vitamin in the recommended doses by the doctor.
However, people who cannot get this vitamin through the dietary sources are prescribed for its supplements which one can easily avail in a drug store or can order online too. Usually, most of the multivitamins contain Vitamin B12 so a doctor can even prescribe for such multivitamins for fulfilling its deficiency.
Regarding its supplements only if a doctor recommends it then and only its intake should be started in the recommended doses. Its supplements are available in the form of tablets, injections and sublingual tablets which dissolve under the tongue.
In the cases where the affected person has difficulty in absorbing this vitamin then they will be given shots of Vitamin B12 to ease its symptoms.
Though now you must have gotten the answer of your query i.e. does vitamin B12 deficiency lead to weight gain or not, however you can well understand now even though weight gain is not an issue associated with this vitamin scarcity still many major health damages can happen as a result of its deficiency. So you must not ignore this and take immediate treatment as well as prevention measures.
[expand title=”View Article Sources“]
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324265.php
- https://www.modernbodyclinic.com/vitamin-b12-deficiency-weight-gain/
[/expand]