A strange sensation in your feet could indicate someone should contact their GP
Keep an eye out for the tell-tale signs of a vitamin B12 shortage, one of which is that peculiar pins-and-needles feeling in your feet.
You can top up on vitamin B12 by tucking into a variety of nosh like eggs, beef, chicken, and cheese. This vital nutrient gets reabsorbed back into our systems via the gut.
B12 vitamins are pivotal for patching us up as they’re involved in churning out red blood cells, the little oxygen taxis of our body.
These vitamins are also key in maintaining eye health, bolstering the immune system, facilitating protein absorption, aiding DNA synthesis, and forming red blood cells. An expert has indicated that a lack of vitamin B12 can impede wound healing in various ways
A critical protein called intrinsic factor (IF), which is produced by stomach cells, attaches itself to vitamin B12. In the absence of IF, vitamin B12 cannot be retained during digestion.
If the immune system targets the stomach cells for any reason, IF will not be generated in adequate amounts.
If people get a tingling sensation in their feet, it might be a good idea to consult a GP. Echoing this sentiment, a scientist from the University of Nottingham pointed out that “lack of vitamin B can affect wound healing in a number of ways”, particularly when it comes to our feet.
Your GP could suggest taking high-dose vitamin B12 supplements, and if your condition takes a turn for the worse, they might have to administer weekly vitamin B12 injections.
B12 folate deficiency anaemia NHS symptoms
Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia can cause a wide range of symptoms. These usually develop gradually, but can worsen if the condition goes untreated.
Most symptoms are the same whether they are caused by either folate deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency.
Symptoms of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency anaemia include:
- rapid breathing or shortness of breath
- headaches
- indigestion
- loss of appetite
- palpitations
- problems with your vision
- feeling weak or tired
- diarrhoea
- a sore or red tongue, sometimes with mouth ulcers
- problems with memory, understanding and judgment (cognitive changes)
Tackling a vitamin B12 deficiency is crucial as it poses serious risks to your neurological health and blood cell production.
According to Harvard Medical School: “Vitamin B12 deficiency can be slow to develop, causing symptoms to appear gradually and intensify over time.”
The experts also highlighted that vitamin B12 deficiency “might also occur following weight-loss surgery too.”
Another potential cause of vitamin B12 deficiency is frequent use of medication for heartburn. By dampening down stomach acid production, these medications can disrupt vitamin B12 absorption, ultimately leading to deficiency.
Vitamin B12 supplements can be sourced online, found in pharmacies, or acquired via a healthcare professional’s prescription.
Besides these symptoms, vitamin B12 deficiency can have disturbing effects on your brain and nervous system, stirring up worrying neurological symptoms such as:
- numbness
- muscle weakness
- psychological problems, which can range from mild depression or anxiety, to confusion and dementia
- problems with balance and coordination
- pins and needles
- incontinence