The main source for humans to obtain Vitamin B12 is from the consumption of meat and fish as the vitamin is made in the digestive tract of animals, where it is absorbed and deposited into their tissues. Vitamin B12 can also be obtained by the consumption of dairy products – cheese, milk and eggs (known as natural sources of B12).

There are no known sources of B12 in plants, although some species of seaweed have been found to contain it. Therefore it is quite common to see Vegetarians or Vegans present with B12 deficiencies.

The earliest symptoms of B12 deficiency include:

• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Confusion
• Forgetfulness
• Fogginess
• Psychosis
• Hallucinations or delusion
• Depression
• Anxiety/Panic attacks
• Tension headaches
• Onset of dementia

Neurological disorders

• Bells palsy
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
• Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME)

Autoimmune disorders

Autoimmune disorders take many forms, they include overactive immune system disorders when the body’s immune system attacks and destroys its own tissue and underactive system disorders when the body’s defence against disease is reduced. Such disorders are frequent with vitamin B12 deficiency. The list includes:

• Addison’s disease
• Amyloidosis
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Coeliac disease
• Crohn’s disease
• Dermatomysositis
• Graves’ disease
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Multiple sclerosis (MS-like presentation/SACD (subacute combined degeneration))
• Myasthenia gravis
• Pernicious anaemia/B12 deficiency
• Reactive arthritis
• Restless leg syndrome (RLS)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sjogren’s syndrome
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Type 1 diabetes
• Ulcerative colitis

Many of the above conditions have overlapping symptoms, for example fatigue, general ill health, joint pain and rash. Many of these conditions stop exhibiting their symptoms once Vitamin B12 balance is restored in the body.

The key triggers or symptoms of B12 deficiency include:

• Irritability
• Tiredness/fatigue
• Mood swings
• Confusion
• Forgetfulness
• Depression
• Anxiety/Panic attacks
• Tension headaches
• Pins & needles
• Numbness in the hands or feet
• Palpitations
• Dizziness
• Low blood pressure
• Anaemia

Benefits of B12:

Within Hours

• Enjoyment of friends
• Sociability
• Mood improvements

Within a Day

• Fatigue lessens (although this can sometimes take some weeks)
• Become more sociable

Within a Week

• Brain fog lifts
• Numbness and pins and needles start to improve

Within 2 Weeks

• Strength may return to muscles and joints

Within a Month

• Pains in hands and feet improve
• Strength and grip improve
• Cyclical hormones such as fertility cycles normalise
• Thyroid and cortisol hormones normalise

The true prevalence of Vitamin B12 deficiency today is not known. This is because studies may be more focused towards specific groups such as vegetarians rather than the population as a whole.

A recent World Health Organisation (WHO) technical consultation on Folate (Vitamin B9) and Vitamin B12 deficiencies noted that B12 deficiency had the potential to be a worldwide public health problem that could affect millions of people.

In the UK, the nutritional status of the population is assessed through the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) and is funded by the Public Health England (PHE) and the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA). This is done on a small representative sample of just 1000 people and a very low cut off point for serum B12 of 150 pmol/L (the amount of Vitamin B12
circulating in the bloodstream). A deficiency rate of 6% of the population under 60 in the UK is suggested – however this will probably be far higher if a larger sample was tested.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can occur at any age but is more prevalent in the elderly due to malabsorption issues. The range of B12 deficiency in this age range are thought to be between 5-40%.

• Hypersensitivity (Allergy to any of the products ingredients)
• Pregnancy/ Breastfeeding or undergoing IVF
• Liver or kidney disease
• When under close medical supervision at hospital
• Active cancer/undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy
• Prone to keloid scarring
• If currently taking Antibiotics as the body would not absorb the drug as well.