Among other things, vitamin B12 is needed to make red blood cells and maintain a healthy nervous system. Naturally, you do not appreciate these contributions until they are absent. B12 deficiency can have pernicious effects.
The former is the most common cause of B12 deficiency in the UK. It is an autoimmune condition which means your immune system – the body’s natural defence system that protects against illness and infection – attacks your body’s healthy cells.
Some people can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency as a result of not getting enough vitamin B12 from their diet.
A diet that includes meat, fish and dairy products usually provides enough vitamin B12, but people who do not regularly eat these foods can become deficient.
People who eat a vegan diet and do not take vitamin B12 supplements or eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 are therefore at a greater risk.
READ MORE: B12 deficiency symptoms: Three warning signs of a deficiency that can be felt in the face
Hydroxocobalamin is usually the recommended option as it stays in the body for longer.
According to the NHS, people who find it difficult to get enough vitamin B12 in their diets, such as those following a vegan diet, may need vitamin B12 tablets for life.
“Although it’s less common, people with vitamin B12 deficiency caused by a prolonged poor diet may be advised to stop taking the tablets once their vitamin B12 levels have returned to normal and their diet has improved.”
