Vitamin B12 is a vital nutrient to our bodies. Found in many animal products such as meat, cheese and eggs, it is needed to produce DNA and red blood cells. Without enough of it the body can’t produce healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body.
“He tried to return to school after the Christmas holidays, however 13-year-old JJ felt unwell and on his way home his legs suddenly buckled and he collapsed.
“For eight long months, JJ was in and out of hospital but there were no answers found. He was referred to a liver specialist, who failed to diagnose his condition.
“At one point it was thought that JJ was suffering from Wilson’s Disease, a genetic disorder in which copper accumulates in tissues.”
He continued to decline and experienced jaundice – yellowing of the skin and eyes – and lost his ability to walk and write.
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“JJ’s mother Kelly, knows that a simple test of his B12 level would have diagnosed his problem months before and would have prevented some of his nerve damage.”
Symptoms of B12 deficiency include:
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Lack of energy (lethargy)
- Breathlessness
- Feeling faint
- Headaches
- Pale skin
- Noticeable heartbeats (palpitations)
- Tinnitus
- Loss of appetite and weight loss.
Good sources of B12 in food include:
- Meat
- Salmon and cod
- Milk and other dairy products
- Eggs
- Some fortified cereals
- Yeast extract such as Marmite.
However, if you have pernicious anaemia and are unable to absorb B12 you might need injections from a GP.