Vitamin B12 Deficiency and Folic Acid Deficiency

The Basics

Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate пїЅ пїЅ

What are vitamin B12 deficiency and folic acid deficiency? " пїЅ Vitamin B12 and folic acid (also called "folate " пїЅ) are 2 different vitamins that your body needs to work normally. A "deficiency " пїЅ means that your body does not have as much of something as it needs. пїЅ пїЅ

People can have vitamin B12 deficiency, folic acid deficiency, or both. пїЅ пїЅ

Why are vitamin B12 and folic acid important? " пїЅ Your body needs vitamin B12 for many things. For example, you need vitamin B12 to make new cells, such as red blood cells, and for your nervous system to work normally. пїЅ пїЅ

Your body needs folic acid, too, to make new cells. It is especially important that pregnant women get enough folic acid, so that their baby can develop normally in the womb. Unborn babies need folic acid so that parts of their nervous system form correctly. пїЅ пїЅ

What causes vitamin B12 deficiency or folic acid deficiency? " пїЅ People can get vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency when: пїЅ пїЅ

• They dont eat enough foods that have vitamin B12 or folic acid in them.
• They eat foods with vitamin B12 and folic acid, but their body can't absorb or use the vitamins normally. These things can happen with certain medical problems or as a side effect of certain medicines.

What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency and folic acid deficiency? " пїЅ A deficiency of vitamin B12, folic acid, or both can cause anemia. Anemia is the term doctors use when a person has too few red blood cells. Anemia can cause headaches or make people feel tired or weak. пїЅ пїЅ

A vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause other symptoms, including: пїЅ пїЅ

• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
• Trouble walking
• Mood changes
• Memory problems or trouble thinking clearly

Should I see a doctor or nurse? " пїЅ Yes. You should see your doctor or nurse if you have any of the symptoms listed above. пїЅ пїЅ

Is there a test for vitamin B12 deficiency and folic acid deficiency? " пїЅ Yes. Your doctor or nurse can do blood tests to check for deficiencies of these vitamins. пїЅ пїЅ

If you have vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, your doctor or nurse will want to know why. He or she might do other tests to find out if it's because of a medical condition or a problem with your diet. пїЅ пїЅ

How are vitamin B12 deficiency and folic acid deficiency treated? " пїЅ Doctors treat vitamin B12 deficiency by giving people vitamin B12. The treatment comes as a shot, as pills, or as a nasal spray. Most people with vitamin B12 deficiency need vitamin B12 shots, especially at first. Later, some people can switch to taking vitamin B12 pills or using a nasal spray instead of getting shots. пїЅ пїЅ

Doctors treat folic acid deficiency by giving people folic acid. This treatment comes as a pill. пїЅ пїЅ

Your doctor or nurse will also treat the cause of your deficiency, if it can be treated. If you need help changing your diet, your doctor or nurse might recommend that you work with a dietitian (food expert). пїЅ пїЅ

Can vitamin B12 deficiency and folic acid deficiency be prevented? " пїЅ Yes. You can lower your chances of getting vitamin B12 deficiency and folic acid deficiency by eating foods that have the vitamins in them. пїЅ пїЅ

Foods with a lot of vitamin B12 include: пїЅ пїЅ

• Red meat
• Fish and shellfish
• Dairy foods
• Breakfast cereals that have vitamin B12 added to them

Foods with a lot of folic acid include: пїЅ пїЅ

• Green leafy vegetables
• Oranges and orange juice
• Breakfast cereals that have folic acid added to them

If you don't eat these foods, your doctor or nurse might recommend that you take a vitamin supplement. Vitamin supplements are pills, capsules, or liquids that have nutrients in them. пїЅ пїЅ

If you are a "pure " пїЅ vegetarian and do not eat any meats, dairy foods, or eggs, you will not get enough vitamin B12 from your diet alone. To avoid getting a vitamin B12 deficiency, you will need to take a vitamin B12 supplement or eat foods with vitamin B12 added to them. пїЅ пїЅ

What if I want to get pregnant? " пїЅ If you want to get pregnant, you should start taking a multivitamin at least 1 month before you start trying to get pregnant. Choose a "prenatal " пїЅ multivitamin that has at least 400 micrograms of folic acid. Show your doctor or nurse the vitamin you plan to take to make sure the doses are right for you and your baby. Too much of some vitamins can be harmful. пїЅ пїЅ

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete. пїЅ пїЅ

This topic retrieved from UpToDate on: Nov 04, 2014. пїЅ пїЅ

Topic 17169 Version 3.0 пїЅ пїЅ

Release: 22.8 - C22.208 пїЅ пїЅ

пїЅ пїЅ 2014 UpToDate, Inc. All rights reserved. пїЅ пїЅ

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