What is vitamin B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12, a water soluble vitamin, helps in the formation of red blood cells and in the maintenance of the central nervous system. Deficiency is due to inadequate dietary intake or impaired absorption of Vitamin B12 resulting in megaloblastic anemia due to inhibition in red blood cell production.

How do members experience vitamin B12 deficiency?

Top 5 symptoms reported by people with vitamin B12 deficiency*

*Reports may be affected by other conditions and/or medication side effects. We ask about general symptoms (anxious mood, depressed mood, fatigue, pain, and stress) regardless of condition.

Top treatments taken by people for vitamin B12 deficiency*

*Data from patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Compare treatments taken by people with vitamin B12 deficiency*

Treatment
Perceived effectiveness
Side effects
Total evaluations
Tried for
Treatment

(Vitamin B12 Prescription (cyanocobalamin))
Perceived effectiveness
for vitamin B12 deficiency (11 evaluations)
Side effects
diarrhea heightened awareness
Total evaluations
12
Tried for
vitamin B12 deficiency (17)
Treatment

(Medivitan)
Perceived effectiveness
No evaluations
Side effects
No evaluations
Total evaluations
0
Tried for
vitamin B12 deficiency (4)

*Data from patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, who have ever reported treatments, ordered by their reporting frequency during the last 5 years.

Who has vitamin B12 deficiency on PatientsLikeMe?

Age

Age Proportion # of patients
<20 2
20s 48
30s 169
40s 298
50s 435
60s 329
70+ 131

Distribution of sex

Sex

Sex Proportion # of patients
Male 213
Female 1,188