About this topic
Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in normal brain and nerve functioning. It also helps form red blood cells. Vitamin B12 helps your body change food into fuel to make energy. ‚
Vitamin B12 deficiency is a condition where the vitamin B12 in the blood is lower than normal. If your red blood cells arent formed the right way, it could lead to a form of anemia. ‚
Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency may include: ‚
- Poor absorption of food from problems that make it hard for your body to digest foods
- Not eating enough foods with B12 in them.
- A special protein, called intrinsic factor, that is from cells in the stomach. It helps your body absorb vitamin B12. If you have a condition or surgery that destroys these cells, a type of vitamin B12 anemia occurs.
- Taking heartburn drugs for a long time.
Treatment includes: ‚
- Giving vitamin B12 shots
- Antibiotics if germs or an infection is causing your food to not be absorbed
- Blood transfusions
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Eat foods high in vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is in meat, eggs, shellfish, poultry, and dairy products.
- Take your drugs as ordered by your doctor.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. During your follow-up, your doctor may tell you if more treatment is needed.
- You may need to go to the doctor each month for a vitamin B12 shot.
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Replace vitamin B12
- Treat infections if the deficiency is due to germs
If you are getting vitamin B12 shots, you may be taught how to give these to yourself. ‚
Will physical activity be limited?
Your physical activity will not be limited. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Trouble breathing
- Signs of nerve damage, such as:
- Low mood
- Confusion
- Numbness and tingling in hands and feet
- Loss of balance
- Not feeling hungry
- Feeling tired or not having energy
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my diet.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have numbness and tingling in my hands or feet.
Where can I learn more?
FamilyDoctor.org ‚
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/prevention-wellness/food-nutrition/nutrients/vitamin-b-12.html ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚