Feeling exhausted and irritable: When is it due to a vitamin deficiency?

If a person feels unusually tired, irritable, or has difficulty concentrating, the problem may be more than just stress or lack of sleep. These symptoms are likely signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 is an essential micronutrient that plays an important role in converting nutrients into energy, nerve function, and mood regulation. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are often overlooked because they are easily confused with other health problems, according to the health website Healthline (USA).

Feeling tired all the time could be due to a lack of vitamin B12.

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Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, also known as cobalamin. The body does not produce vitamin B12 on its own, so it must be supplemented from natural foods or functional foods. Long-term B12 deficiency can lead to many serious health problems.

Chronic fatigue and weakness are among the most common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. This is because a lack of B12 reduces the ability to make red blood cells.

Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. When the number of red blood cells decreases, the organs do not receive enough oxygen, leading to feelings of fatigue and weakness. In addition, the body will also experience the following symptoms:

Cognitive impairment

In addition to fatigue, people with vitamin B12 deficiency also experience difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, or a "fuzzy" feeling in the head.

Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to neurological symptoms

Long-term vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to nerve damage. Warning signs of this condition include numbness or tingling in the limbs, muscle weakness, and difficulty maintaining balance.

Pale or yellow skin

A decrease in the number of red blood cells in the blood due to a lack of B12 will lead to anemia, which is manifested by pale or slightly yellow skin.

Glossitis and mouth ulcers

Tongue inflammation and mouth ulcers are other warning signs of vitamin B12 deficiency. However, not all cases of tongue inflammation or mouth ulcers are due to vitamin B12 deficiency. Other causes may be mouth ulcers, oral thrush, or allergies.

If a doctor suspects a B12 deficiency, he or she will order a blood test to measure vitamin B12 levels. Depending on the cause and severity of the deficiency, the doctor will prescribe appropriate treatments, such as taking supplements or B12 injections. One of the preferred ways is to increase foods rich in vitamin B12 such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, beef liver, lamb liver, chicken, beef or drinking milk, according to Healthline .

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cam-thay-kiet-suc-va-de-cau-gat-khi-nao-la-do-thieu-vitamin-185250426190041242.htm