Vitamin B12 deficiency warning: The subtle change to your skin that could reveal your risk

Vitamin B12 is used by the body to make red blood cells, according to the NHS. It’s also used to produce DNA, and to keep the nervous system healthy, it said. You could have a vitamin B12 deficiency if you’re constantly having headaches, lose your appetite, or if you’re always feeling tired. You may be at risk of the condition if your notice your skin becoming very pale, it’s been revealed.

If you’re deficient in vitamin B12, you could become anaemic

Dr Carrie Ruxton

Paler skin that normal could be a hidden warning sign of a vitamin B12 deficiency, warned dietitian Dr Carrie Ruxton.

The symptom may be caused by anaemia that’s developed as a result of the deficiency, she said.

If your pale skin is accompanied by a persistent headache or feeling faint, it may be a good idea to speak to a doctor.

“Your body doesn’t make vitamin B12,” she wrote on medical website Patient.info. “That means you need to get it from food or supplements.

“If you’re deficient in vitamin B12, you could become anaemic.

“Signs you’re low include tiredness, lethargy, headaches, altered taste, loss of appetite, pale skin, and low mood.”

“A clinical deficiency of vitamin B12 leads to pernicious anaemia which may cause neurological problems if left untreated.

“If you are concerned about any of these symptoms, your GP will be able to investigate and advise.”

You could also reveal your risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency by checking your stool after using the toilet.

Frequent diarrhoea could be caused by the condition, due to a lack of red blood cells delivering oxygen to the gut.

Without enough oxygen, it can make people feel nauseous, and could even lead to vomiting.

Other common warning signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency include tiredness, feeling dizzy, and irritability.

You should speak to a doctor if you’re worried that you may have a vitamin B12 deficiency.

You can top up on the vitamin by eating certain foods, including beef, liver, dairy foods, eggs, and salmon.

A vitamin B12 deficiency could be caused by pernicious anaemia – a condition that’s caused by the body’s immune system attacking healthy stomach cells.

Diagnosing the condition early is crucial, as it can lead to heart conditions and temporary infertility on rare occasions.

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