Vitamin B12 deficiency is no joke, especially for women, some of the symptoms can sneak up and seriously mess with everyday life. Ignoring the warning signs isn’t worth the risk, because catching them early makes a world of difference for energy, mood, and long-term health. "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," warns NHS UK.
Why Vitamin B12 matters
Vitamin B12 is essential for keeping blood and nerve cells in top shape. Without enough of it, the body can’t make healthy red blood cells, and the brain and nervous system start to malfunction. What’s scary is that sometimes symptoms are subtle at first—or even wrongly blamed on just being “busy” or “stressed”—so they can be overlooked for too long.
Everyday symptoms women ignore far too often
A Vitamin B12 deficiency can creep up on you, it doesn’t usually hit all at once. The warning signs build slowly, and honestly, they can be easy to brush off as “just life.” But here are a few red flags, as cited by NHS UK, worth paying attention to:
Wiped-out tiredness: Not your regular “I need a nap” tired. This is that deep exhaustion where no amount of coffee perks you up.
Zero energy: Even small tasks—like doing laundry or running errands—feel like a marathon.
Weakness: If climbing a flight of stairs or carrying groceries feels way harder than it should, something’s off.
Shortness of breath: Getting winded without a workout isn’t just being “out of shape.”
Heart flutters: That weird racing, skipping, or fluttering heartbeat that shows up for no clear reason.
Now, these symptoms can come from lots of different things, but low Vitamin B12 is a sneaky one that often gets overlooked. It’s especially common in women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, vegan/vegetarian, or dealing with digestive issues like Crohn’s, celiac, or gastric surgery recovery.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can have a permanent damaging effect on brain
Some of the most dangerous effects of Vitamin B12 deficiency happen in the brain and nervous system. Unfortunately, these can be subtle at first, but may become permanent if ignored.Subtly reduced cognitive function resulting from early vitamin B12 deficiency is sometimes the only symptom of these intestinal disorders. Severe vitamin B12 deficiency can cause permanent nerve damage and dementia, warns US CDC.
Pins and needles: Tingling or numbness in the hands, feet, or legs, even when not sitting in a weird position.
Muscle weakness: Not being able to open a stubborn jar, or muscle cramping without a clear cause.
Balance and coordination problems: Feeling dizzy, having trouble walking straight, or bumping into things more often than usual.
Memory issues and brain fog: Forgetting appointments, losing track of thoughts, or just feeling “off” and slower mentally than usual.
Mood swings and depression: Suddenly feeling low, irritable, or anxious for no obvious reason isn’t “just hormonal”, B12 plays a key part in mental wellbeing.
If tingling, numbness, or memory slips start happening, don’t just brush them off, they’re a call for help from the nervous system.
Vitamin B12 deficiency and gut health
Sometimes Vitamin B12 deficiency shows up in ways you’d never expect—like a sore, red, or swollen tongue (yep, that’s actually called glossitis), stubborn mouth ulcers that refuse to heal, or even food suddenly losing its appeal, leading to weight loss without trying. Add in random bouts of diarrhea, ongoing stomach issues, bloating, or that annoying indigestion that just won’t quit, and it’s easy to see why B12 is such a big deal. For many women, these symptoms stick around just as stubbornly as the fatigue, all because B12 plays a key role in keeping tissues and digestive nerves healthy.
Any woman who checks off even a couple of the above symptoms shouldn’t wait. Doctors can easily check B12 levels with a blood test, and most symptoms start getting better soon after treatment with supplements or dietary changes.
What increases the risk of Vitamin B12 deficiency?
As per Health Canada Clinical Guidelines, the common risk factors of Vitamin B12 are Gastrectomy or surgery to the ileum, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, increased requirements (for example, in pregnancy), long-term use of acid-suppressive drugs (for example, proton pump inhibitors), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, vitiligo and raw fish intake (fish tapeworm).
Other risk factors include: inadequate intake of green leafy vegetables, legumes and liver (for example, in elderly, alcoholic and chronically ill clients); alcoholism, impaired absorption (for example, after gastrectomy or surgery to the ileum, Crohn’s disease, pancreatic insufficiency, inflammatory bowel disease), renal dialysis, increased demand (for example, in pregnancy,
terminal illness, chronic inflammatory disorders), use of drugs that are folate antagonists such as methotrexate, phenytoin (Dilantin), sulfa-related drugs sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Septra), HIV disease (and associated drug therapy) and chemotherapy agents.
Why Vitamin B12 matters
Vitamin B12 is essential for keeping blood and nerve cells in top shape. Without enough of it, the body can’t make healthy red blood cells, and the brain and nervous system start to malfunction. What’s scary is that sometimes symptoms are subtle at first—or even wrongly blamed on just being “busy” or “stressed”—so they can be overlooked for too long.
Everyday symptoms women ignore far too often
A Vitamin B12 deficiency can creep up on you, it doesn’t usually hit all at once. The warning signs build slowly, and honestly, they can be easy to brush off as “just life.” But here are a few red flags, as cited by NHS UK, worth paying attention to:
Wiped-out tiredness: Not your regular “I need a nap” tired. This is that deep exhaustion where no amount of coffee perks you up.
Zero energy: Even small tasks—like doing laundry or running errands—feel like a marathon.
Weakness: If climbing a flight of stairs or carrying groceries feels way harder than it should, something’s off.
Shortness of breath: Getting winded without a workout isn’t just being “out of shape.”
Heart flutters: That weird racing, skipping, or fluttering heartbeat that shows up for no clear reason.
Now, these symptoms can come from lots of different things, but low Vitamin B12 is a sneaky one that often gets overlooked. It’s especially common in women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, vegan/vegetarian, or dealing with digestive issues like Crohn’s, celiac, or gastric surgery recovery.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can have a permanent damaging effect on brain
Some of the most dangerous effects of Vitamin B12 deficiency happen in the brain and nervous system. Unfortunately, these can be subtle at first, but may become permanent if ignored.Subtly reduced cognitive function resulting from early vitamin B12 deficiency is sometimes the only symptom of these intestinal disorders. Severe vitamin B12 deficiency can cause permanent nerve damage and dementia, warns US CDC.
Pins and needles: Tingling or numbness in the hands, feet, or legs, even when not sitting in a weird position.
Muscle weakness: Not being able to open a stubborn jar, or muscle cramping without a clear cause.
Balance and coordination problems: Feeling dizzy, having trouble walking straight, or bumping into things more often than usual.
Memory issues and brain fog: Forgetting appointments, losing track of thoughts, or just feeling “off” and slower mentally than usual.
Mood swings and depression: Suddenly feeling low, irritable, or anxious for no obvious reason isn’t “just hormonal”, B12 plays a key part in mental wellbeing.
If tingling, numbness, or memory slips start happening, don’t just brush them off, they’re a call for help from the nervous system.
Vitamin B12 deficiency and gut health
Sometimes Vitamin B12 deficiency shows up in ways you’d never expect—like a sore, red, or swollen tongue (yep, that’s actually called glossitis), stubborn mouth ulcers that refuse to heal, or even food suddenly losing its appeal, leading to weight loss without trying. Add in random bouts of diarrhea, ongoing stomach issues, bloating, or that annoying indigestion that just won’t quit, and it’s easy to see why B12 is such a big deal. For many women, these symptoms stick around just as stubbornly as the fatigue, all because B12 plays a key role in keeping tissues and digestive nerves healthy.
Any woman who checks off even a couple of the above symptoms shouldn’t wait. Doctors can easily check B12 levels with a blood test, and most symptoms start getting better soon after treatment with supplements or dietary changes.
What increases the risk of Vitamin B12 deficiency?
As per Health Canada Clinical Guidelines, the common risk factors of Vitamin B12 are Gastrectomy or surgery to the ileum, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, increased requirements (for example, in pregnancy), long-term use of acid-suppressive drugs (for example, proton pump inhibitors), Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, vitiligo and raw fish intake (fish tapeworm).
Other risk factors include: inadequate intake of green leafy vegetables, legumes and liver (for example, in elderly, alcoholic and chronically ill clients); alcoholism, impaired absorption (for example, after gastrectomy or surgery to the ileum, Crohn’s disease, pancreatic insufficiency, inflammatory bowel disease), renal dialysis, increased demand (for example, in pregnancy,
terminal illness, chronic inflammatory disorders), use of drugs that are folate antagonists such as methotrexate, phenytoin (Dilantin), sulfa-related drugs sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Septra), HIV disease (and associated drug therapy) and chemotherapy agents.
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