Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, supports several different functions in the human body. It keeps red blood cells healthy, facilitates proper DNA synthesis, and protects and heals the nervous system.
People primarily obtain B12 through their diet. For instance, dishes with beef, lamb, fish, and shellfish are rich in B12. Fortified foods can also add B12 to your diet. People who do not eat these foods regularly, such as strict vegans, may be at risk for a vitamin deficiency. Also, if you have problems absorbing nutrients, you may develop a B12 deficiency even if you get it through your diet or supplements.
A lack of B12 can cause fatigue, weakness, nerve pain, and tingling sensations in your body. These symptoms can mimic early signs of cancer. Firstly, it’s crucial to distinguish between the two. Secondly, B12 deficiencies can sometimes be a sign of certain digestive system cancers.
Here’s a closer look at the importance of B12 and its relationship with cancer.
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Understanding Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Several factors can contribute to vitamin B12 deficiency. Most people get sufficient amounts of B12 through their diet. However, people who don’t eat meat and seafood and get their protein through soy, beans, and fortified products may not get enough B12.
However, deficiency can also come from impaired absorption. This problem can occur regardless of your diet. Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and atrophic gastritis may disrupt the absorption process by hampering the production of digestive enzymes in the stomach or blocking absorption in the small intestine.
Conditions like anemia can arise with untreated B12 deficiency. Anemia causes a lack of red blood cells, which are vital for carrying oxygen through your body. B12 is necessary for the production of these cells.
The vitamin is also essential for protecting and repairing nerves. If you don’t get enough B12, you might develop nerve pain or numbness in your limbs, face, or lower back.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency as a Symptom of Cancer
Cancer can sometimes lead to vitamin B12 deficiency due to malnutrition as the disease disrupts normal bodily functions. This is especially true with gastrointestinal cancers, which can affect the digestive system and block the normal absorption of nutrients like B12 from food. Also, cancer treatments, such as radiation therapy, can cause malabsorption that leads to a B12 deficiency.
Can Vitamin B12 Deficiency Contribute to Cancer Development?
Researchers haven’t found direct links between cancer and B12 deficiency. However, some studies suggest a link between B12 deficiency and cancer development. For instance, vitamin B12 plays a critical role in DNA synthesis and repair. These processes rely on B12 for support, so they are disrupted by a deficiency. This can lead to abnormal cell division and DNA damage, both of which are commonly found during the early stages of cancer development.
However, this does not mean that a B12 deficiency directly causes cancer. Other factors contribute to cancer risk in individuals with B12 deficiency. Also, some deficiencies could be attributed to absorption issues due to undiagnosed gastric cancers, rather than a cause of the cancer.
Risk Factors for Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Several factors can increase your risk of developing vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. Here’s a breakdown of some key risk factors:
- Age: As you age, your stomach acid production naturally declines, which can hinder B12 absorption.
- Digestive disorders: Certain digestive conditions like celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, and ulcerative colitis can damage the intestinal lining, impacting nutrient absorption.
- Diet: Strict vegetarians and vegans are at risk for B12 deficiency, as the highest concentrations of B12 are in animal sources.
- Medications: Long-term use of certain medications, such as diabetes or heartburn drugs, can interfere with B12 absorption.
- Alcohol use: Excessive alcohol consumption can damage the stomach lining and impair B12 absorption.
If you have one of these risk factors, doctors may decide to assess your B12 levels even if you do not have symptoms.
Diagnosing Vitamin B12 Deficiency
A doctor will typically start by asking about your lifestyle, diet, and family health history. They will also usually order blood tests. A complete blood count (CBC) can reveal signs of anemia, and a specific vitamin B12 blood test can measure the amount of B12 circulating in your bloodstream.
For this test, a level below 200 pg/mL indicates a B12 deficiency, while 300 pg/mL is considered normal.
Treatment and Management of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Supplements or dietary changes can treat B12 deficiencies. Supplementation can involve vitamin B12 injections or oral tablets. For individuals with severe deficiency or absorption problems issues, self-administered injections on a regular basis could be effective. However, B12 doses and injection timing will vary depending on the patient and their condition.
Tablets can work if you have diet-related or mild absorption-related deficiencies, and you can also incorporate B12-rich foods like beef, organ meat, or shellfish.
A physician may give you a supplementation regimen and then test B12 levels after some time to measure its effectiveness.
Preventing Vitamin B12 Deficiency
The good news is that vitamin B12 deficiency is largely preventable through a combination of dietary modifications and supplements. Adding beef, organ meats, and fish to your menu can give you dietary B12. If you don’t eat meat, consider adding fortified foods. Many cereals and plant-based beverages have added B12.
Individuals following vegetarian or vegan diets can ensure adequate B12 intake by consuming fortified foods like cereals, plant-based milks, and nutritional yeast or by taking regular B12 supplements.
You can also consider injections of pure B12 or B12 with other compounds. For instance, you can get B12 injections with lipotropic compounds to promote overall liver health and fat absorption. The benefits of injections include bypassing the absorption process. Intramuscular shots inject the vitamin directly into your bloodstream, increasing the amount of B12 that gets to your cells.
When To See a Doctor
Early diagnosis and treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency and cancer are critical to maintaining overall health and speeding recovery. Here are some symptoms to consider.
- Persistent fatigue and weakness;
- Numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in the hands and feet;
- Difficulty maintaining a healthy weight;
- Changes in mood, such as depression or irritability;
- Mouth sores;
- Digestion problems like bloating and excess gas.
Also, people who don’t eat meat, those over 75, and people with anemia should check their B12 levels.
B12 deficiency can be a sign and symptom of some cancers. However, to ensure overall health, you should also monitor your B12 levels and add oral supplements or injections if necessary.
