Vitamin B12 or B9 deficiency, also known as folate deficiency anaemia, impacts around six percent of people under 60 and 20 percent of people over 60. The nutrient helps to keep your body’s blood and nerve cells healthy, make DNA and prevent megaloblastic anaemia. The symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency can be severe, so it’s important to top up your stores with supplements or the jab. Who should get the Vitamin B12 injection?
Vitamin B12 (also referred to as B9 or folate) deficiency anaemia happens when a lack of vitamin B12 causes the body to produce abnormally large red blood cells that can’t function properly.
Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body using haemoglobin, but if you’re anaemic you either have fewer red blood cells than normal or an abnormally low amount of haemoglobin in each red blood cell.
The most common cause of Vitamin B12 deficiency is pernicious anaemia, but it can also happen as a result of certain medicines, or you can simply the vitamins in your diet if you are vegan or have a generally poor diet.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is easy to solve, so don’t put up with the horrible symptoms if you’re experiencing them.
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If the deficiency is caused by pernicious anaemia, your immune system is attacking the healthy cells in your stomach and preventing your body from absorbing B12 from the food you eat, so you’ll need the injection to fix the problem.
The injection is very safe, but you might experience some pain, swelling or redness at the site of injection, or even headaches, itching or nausea in rare cases.
Whether you take the injection or tablets, you’ll need to keep these treatments up forever (or as long as the deficiency persists if it’s caused by diet).
If you take the jab, you’ll need to get it done every two to three months for the rest of your life.