Vitamin B12 is found in many animal products such as meat, cheese and eggs. It has various vital functions within the body, including helping to create red blood cells. If you are deficient in B12 you can’t produce healthy blood cells that are needed to transport oxygen around the body.
His family brought him to the emergency department as he had not been eating properly for three days and had started vomiting.
“The patient had a normal state of health until two months prior to his visit, when he started to develop changes in his behaviour,” the case study explains.
“According to his wife, the patient became more aggressive, had reduced sleep, had stopped going to work, and became isolated. He also had hallucinations and episodes of short-term memory loss.
“The above symptoms were accompanied by generalised body weakness, mainly in the lower limbs.
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“The body weakness was associated with pain; the patient became wheelchair-bound.
“During the last two months, the patient visited many physicians, but no definite diagnosis was determined.”
He underwent a neurological examination, during which he was “unable to support himself while standing”, however, this yielded no answers.
Lab tests then revealed he had “undetectable levels” of vitamin B12 in his blood.
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The study concludes: “Two months after starting the treatment, the patient came back for a follow-up.
“There was a major change in his behaviour. He was fully oriented and had significant improvements in memory, but he did not remember when he was admitted.
“Five months after starting the treatment, the patient returned for a second follow-up and had marked improvements in gait, muscle power, and cognitive function.”
Six months after starting the treatment, the patient was able to walk alone and drive his car.