2 Mental Signs Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency is even linked to brain shrinkage.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is even linked to brain shrinkage.

Problems with general thinking and memory skills can indicate vitamin B12 deficiency, research finds.

People with a vitamin B12 deficiency can have problems with worse memory for events and ideas.

Around 12.5 percent of people over 50 have a vitamin B12 deficiency, recent studies find.

Other, more common signs of vitamin B12 deficiency include feeling tired, experiencing muscle weakness and being constipated.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is even linked to brain shrinkage.

The latest result come from a study of 5,290 people in Ireland.

The study found that along with B12 deficiency, 14 percent had a folate deficiency.

Very few people in the study took supplements to correct the deficiency.

Vitamin B12 and folate are both vital for nerve function, brain health and DNA.

Fortunately, these deficiencies are easy to rectify with diet or supplementation.

Good dietary sources of vitamin B12 include fish, poultry, eggs and low-fat milk.

Fortified breakfast cereals also contain vitamin B12.

Professor Anne Molloy, study co-author, said:

“This study shows a surprising level of inadequate folate among older persons, despite many years of voluntary folic acid fortification of certain foods on the Irish market.

Concerns relating to excessive folic acid intake, particularly in older people, have been at the heart of current debates regarding the risks of population-wide folic acid fortification.”

The rate of vitamin B12 deficiency is higher in those who are older, vegetarian, smokers or have certain digestive problems, such as Crohn’s disease.

Vitamin B12 deficiency has also been linked to depression.

Typical symptoms of depression include low mood, loss of energy and problems concentrating.

In fact, people with a deficiency in vitamin B12 are at triple the risk of developing melancholic depression, one study has found.

The study was published in the British Journal of Nutrition (Laird et al., 2018).

2 Simple Signs Of Omega-3 And Omega-6 Deficiency

A deficiency of these two types of omega fatty acids can cause health problems.

A deficiency of these two types of omega fatty acids can cause health problems.

Skin and eye problems can be signs of omega-3 and omega-6 deficiency.

Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids deficiencies are linked to dry eye syndrome, dermatitis such as eczema and dry and rough skin.

Dietary consumption of fish oil or taking fish oil extract can help treat skin disorders such as dermatitis, skin cancer, and skin infection.

The three main omega-3 fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential as our body cannot make it.

Fish is a good source of EPA and DHA while ALA is mainly found in plant oils.

Walnuts, chia seeds, soybean, hemp seed and flaxseed oils are high in ALA whereas salmon, trout, sardines, and mackerel are high in EPA and DHA.

A diet high in sunflower, peanut oils and corn, which are low in ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) but high in LA (linolenic acid), can also cause omega-3 deficiency.

Gamma-linolenic acid or GLA is an omega-6 fatty acid found to have anti-inflammatory effects.

Evening primrose oil and borage oil are rich in GLA and dietary supplementation of these reduces skin dryness and dermatitis.

Patients with atopic dermatitis (eczema) have been shown to have lower Dihomo-GLA that is synthesized directly from GLA.

Treating dry eye syndrome

Low level of essential fatty acids like alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) in the body can cause dry eye syndrome.

This is a condition in which tears are not able to make enough moisture and lubrication for the eyes.

It causes redness, soreness, dryness, irritation, blurriness, pain, and a sandy or gritty feeling.

A study by Professor Reza Dana and colleagues shows that topical drop application of ALA will significantly reduce the symptoms of dry eye syndrome.

In a different study, consumption of tuna has been shown to reduce the risk of dry eye syndrome.

The risk of dry eye syndrome was reduced 68 percent in women who had five servings of tuna per week compared to women who only had one serving of tuna per week.

Dr Debra Schaumberg, the senior author of the study, said:

“We are accustomed to the mantra ‘you are what you eat’ and our study suggests that this also applies to a person’s vision.

Based on this report, preventing dry eye syndrome is another potential reason to follow a diet rich in tuna and other foods plentiful in omega 3 fatty acids.”

Boosting cognitive function

With ageing, DHA deficiency can occur resulting in impaired memory, learning processed, and age-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Dietary intake of DHA supports antioxidant activity, improves membrane fluidity and increases the expression of several proteins that are key for improving memory functions.

The review was published in the journal Marine Drugs (Huang et al., 2018).

Vitamin B12 Deficiency: A Strange Night-Time Symptom To Know

Vitamin B12 is a critical fuel for the body, helping the body’s nerve and blood cells stay healthy and make DNA.

Vitamin B12 is a critical fuel for the body, helping the body’s nerve and blood cells stay healthy and make DNA.

Night sweats can be a surprising symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency, studies have suggested.

Night sweats can soak the body, pyjamas and bed clothes.

They occur even without an overheated bedroom or sleep environment.

After taking vitamin B12, though, the symptoms can disappear.

Vitamin B12 is a critical fuel for the body, helping the body’s nerve and blood cells stay healthy and make DNA.

In one case study reported in a scientific journal, a man had been suffering from extensive night sweats for years.

They were so bad that he had to change his bedsheets almost daily.

The sweating was most obvious around the upper areas of his body — especially from the top to the mid-chest.

The study’s authors explain the treatment and the results:

“Vitamin-B12 injections 1000mcg daily for seven days followed by monthly injections were prescribed on the basis of elevated homocysteine levels.

Patient reported a dramatic response of his sweating after the second injection of vitamin B12 and remained asymptomatic at three months follows up.”

Several other cases reported by the authors of this study also linked drenching night sweats to vitamin B12 deficiency.

It is still not known exactly why vitamin B12 deficiency should be linked to excessive sweating.

Other symptoms that have been linked to vitamin B12 deficiency include:

  • vision problems,
  • a smooth tongue,
  • pale skin,
  • heart palpitations,
  • tiredness, weakness and feeling light-headed,
  • and numbness or tingling in the body, as well as muscle weakness.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively easy to combat with dietary supplements or a change of diet itself.

Foods that are high in vitamin B12 include liver, fortified cereals, dairy products, salmon and eggs.

Some groups of people are at higher risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, such as older people, vegetarians, and those with digestive disorders.

The study was published in the European Journal of General Medicine (Rehman et al., 2015).

The Popular Drinks That Double Bowel Cancer Risk

Consuming these products in early life and adulthood doubles the risk for bowel cancer before age 50.

Consuming these products in early life and adulthood doubles the risk for bowel cancer before age 50.

In recent years the risk for developing bowel cancer — technically known as colorectal cancer — has considerably increased among people under 50.

The reason for this appears to be the high sugar intake in our diet consumed during teens and adulthood.

A study has found that women who drink sugar-sweetened beverages are at greater risk of colorectal cancer before they reach age 50.

Developing early-onset colorectal cancer was more common among those who consumed sugary drinks habitually at age 13–18 years and in adulthood.

Dr Yin Cao, the study’s senior author, said:

“Colorectal cancer in younger adults remains relatively rare, but the fact that the rates have been increasing over the past three decades—and we don’t understand why—is a major public health concern and a priority in cancer prevention.

Due to the increase in colorectal cancer at younger ages, the average age of colorectal cancer diagnosis has gone down from 72 years to 66 years.

These cancers are more advanced at diagnosis and have different characteristics compared with cancers from older populations.”

In this study, women who had two or more servings of sugar-sweetened beverages (8 ounces or 230ml) a day were twice as likely to develop colorectal cancer by age 50 than those who had less than one serving a week.

The data show that for each 8-ounce increase, there was a 16 percent increase in risk.

Teen’s growth and development is set between age 13 and 18 and diet can have a big impact during this critical period of time.

Each daily serving of sugary drinks at age 13 to 18 years was linked to a 32 percent higher risk of developing early-onset colorectal cancer.

Sugary drinks have been associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes in both children and adults.

However, the impact of sugary drinks on increasing colorectal cancer rates in the younger population wasn’t clear.

Over the past two decades, drinking sugar-sweetened beverages has increased enormously in teenagers and those aged 20 to 34.

At the same time, colorectal cancer incidence in young adults has also risen.

Dr Cao said:

“In past work, we have shown that poor diet quality was associated with increased risk of early-onset colorectal cancer precursors, but we have not previously examined specific nutrients or foods.”

Also, the study found that other drinks such as milk and coffee were linked to a lower risk of colorectal cancer in young adults, suggesting these unsweetened drinks are a better option in the long run.

Dr Cao said:

“Given this data, we recommend that people avoid sugar-sweetened beverages and instead choose drinks like milk and coffee without sweeteners.”

The study was published in the journal GUT (Hur et al., 2021).

A Mental Sign Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively common, especially in the elderly.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively common, especially in the elderly.

Problems with thinking and memory can be signs of vitamin B12 deficiency, studies find.

Low levels of vitamin B12, along with other vital nutrients, are linked to brain shrinkage.

Deficiencies in these critical micronutrients may also be important in the development of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

New research has looked at nutrients in the ‘Mediterranean diet’, which is linked to better brain aging.

It found that people had better cognitive functioning when they had higher levels of important nutrients, including vitamin B12, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, folate and others.

The study included 116 seniors who were given tests of their IQ, memory and thinking skills.

Scans also assessed the efficiency of their brains.

Professor Aron Barbey, study co-author, said:

“Efficiency has to do with how information is communicated within the network.

We looked at ‘local efficiency’ – how well information is shared within a spatially confined set of brain regions – and also ‘global efficiency,’ which reflects how many steps are required to transfer information from any one region to any other region in the network.

If your network is more efficiently configured, then it should be easier, on average, to access relevant information and the task should take you less time.”

The results showed that people performed better in the tests if their blood was higher in levels of these nutrients:

  • omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids,
  • carotenoids,
  • lycopene,
  • riboflavin,
  • folate,
  • vitamin B12
  • and vitamin D.

Professor Barbey explained the results:

“Our study suggests that diet and nutrition moderate the association between network efficiency and cognitive performance.

This means that the strength of the association between functional brain network efficiency and cognitive performance is associated with the level of the nutrients.”

Other potential signs of vitamin B12 deficiency include feeling tired, experiencing muscle weakness and being constipated.

Good sources of vitamin B12 include fish, poultry, eggs and low-fat milk.

Fortified breakfast cereals also contain vitamin B12.

The study was published in the journal Neuroimage (Zwilling et al., 2019).

A Physical Sign Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Supplements or foods such as dairy, liver, salmon and eggs can rectify a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Supplements or foods such as dairy, liver, salmon and eggs can rectify a vitamin B12 deficiency.

A tingling or numbness in the hands, legs or feet can be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency.

The sensation frequently starts in the feet and moves to the hands.

The feelings may also be linked to problems with walking or even difficulty balancing.

Known to doctors as neuropathy, the problem can affect people of all ages, although it is particularly common in those over 50.

Around one-in-twelve people over 50 experiences the condition.

Other causes of neuropathy include autoimmune processes and genetics — however, the most common cause is diabetes.

Other common signs of vitamin B12 deficiency include jaundice, feeling dizzy and lethargy.

The body uses vitamin B12 to make red blood cells and to keep the nervous system healthy.

The good news is that vitamin B12 is easy to correct either with supplementation or a change in diet.

Foods high in vitamin B12 include dairy foods, beef, salmon, eggs and low-fat milk.

Dr John D. England, a neurologist at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, said:

“People with suspected nerve problems should talk to their doctors about screening tests, especially blood glucose, vitamin B12 level and serum protein levels, since these tests can often point to common causes of neuropathy.”

People who may have difficulty getting enough vitamin B12 include vegetarians, older people and those with some digestive disorders, such as Crohn’s disease.

Dr England said:

“There are many people with a neuropathy who have been walking around for years without having been diagnosed and treated.

Both neurologists and people with neuropathy need to know that the appropriate choice of tests is critical to accurate diagnosis.”

The guidelines were published in the American Academy of Neurology.

The Vitamin Deficiency Linked To Losing Muscle Strength

Those who lack this vitamin are 70 percent more likely to have muscle weakness and physical disability.

Those who lack this vitamin are 70 percent more likely to have muscle weakness and physical disability.

Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for muscle wasting (atrophy) and loss of muscle strength (dynapenia).

People with low vitamin D levels are more likely to see declines in muscle mass, strength, and function besides loss of bone density, a study reveals.

The research also shows that vitamin D supplementation could reduce the risk of dynapenia in seniors with low serum 25(OH)D levels by 78 percent.

Muscle atrophy and dynapenia can lead to physical disability in later life, indeed individuals with such conditions have a higher incidence of falling, hospitalisation, and premature death.

Professor Tiago da Silva Alexandre, the study’s co-author, said:

“Vitamin D is known to participate in various functions of the organism.

Actually, it’s a hormone and its many roles include helping to repair muscles and releasing calcium for muscle contraction kinetics.

It was therefore expected to cause muscle alterations of some kind.

That’s exactly what our study proved.”

Muscle tissue and bone are connected biochemically and physically so endocrine disorders such as low blood levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) could result in bone loss and decreases in the size, strength and function of muscles.

Muscle weakness increased by 70 percent

In this study, more than 3000 adults with no history of dynapenia were followed over four years.

Serum 25(OH)D levels reflect the amount of vitamin D stored in the body, the concentration above 50 nmol/L is classified as sufficient, between 30 to 50 nmol/L as insufficient, and below 30 nmol/L as deficient.

The study found that participants with vitamin D deficiency were 70 percent more likely to dynapenia than those with sufficient levels.

Mr Maicon Luís Bicigo Delinocente, the study’s first author, said:

“This is itself an important finding as it shows that vitamin D deficiency heightens the risk of muscle weakness by 70%.

However, because we knew there are many worldwide cases of people with osteoporosis who take vitamin supplements, we needed to try to measure the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation.”

To obtain the correct data, those on vitamin D supplements and those with osteoporosis were excluded from the study.

Mr Delinocente added:

“we found that the risk of developing muscle weakness by the end of the four-year period was 78% higher for subjects with vitamin D deficiency at the start of the study than for subjects with normal vitamin D levels, and 77% higher for those with vitamin D insufficiency [30-50 nmol/L].”

Vitamin D is essential for the absorption of calcium and phosphorus, maintaining cognitive function, and supporting the immune system.

The main way of getting vitamin D is sunlight, but a large area of  the skin requires exposure to the sun for at least 15 to 20 minutes.

Professor Alexandre said:

“The study analyzed data for people who live in the UK.

There are many more days of sunlight per year in Brazil, and yet we’re known to have a high incidence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, especially among older people.

Indeed, this is the case worldwide.

It’s necessary to explain to people that they risk losing muscle strength if they don’t get enough vitamin D.

They need to expose themselves to the sun, eat food rich in vitamin D or take a supplement, and do resistance training exercises to maintain muscle strength.”

The study was published in the journal Calcified Tissue International (Delinocente et al., 2022).

A Mental Sign Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

These are some common signs of a deficiency in vitamin B12.

These are some common signs of a deficiency in vitamin B12.

Loss of energy and problems concentrating can both be signs of vitamin B12 deficiency, research suggests.

Lack of the crucial vitamin has also been linked to other depression symptoms, such as low mood.

In fact, people with a deficiency in vitamin B12 are at triple the risk of developing melancholic depression, one study has found.

Constipation, muscle weakness and a general feeling of being tired are some other common signs of vitamin B12 deficiency.

It may be that one-quarter of people have a deficiency in vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 is used by the body to make red blood cells and in supporting a healthy nervous system.

Fortunately, the deficiency is relatively easy to correct.

Foods that contain high amounts of vitamin B12 include beef, salmon, eggs, low-fat milk and dairy in general.

People at higher risk of suffering vitamin B12 deficiency include vegetarians, older people and those with digestive disorders.

Vitamin B12 has been trialled in the treatment of some mental health problems.

One study has found that B vitamins can help people with psychosis to improve their concentration.

People recovering from psychosis in the study performed better on concentration tests after taking B vitamins.

Dr Kelly Allott, the study’s first author, said:

“This indicates the B-vitamins could have a neuroprotective effect; although they are not improving a patient’s concentration skills, they may be protecting these skills from declining.

Psychosis is a diverse condition where everybody presents with different symptoms and a different biological profile.

What was particularly interesting was that the participants who had abnormally high homocysteine levels at baseline were most responsive to the B-vitamin supplements, in terms of improvement in attention.

The results of this study support a more personalised approach to vitamin supplementation in first episode psychosis, suggesting those with elevated homocysteine are likely to benefit most.”

The study was published in the journal Biological Psychiatry (Allott et al., 2019).

The Facial Sign Of Vitamin B12 Deficiency

The symptom is not normally painful, but can be irritating.

The symptom is not normally painful, but can be irritating.

Twitching around the eyes can be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency.

The twitch usually occurs in one eye or the other, or just below them.

The symptom is not normally painful, but can be irritating.

The body uses vitamin B12 to make red blood cells and to keep the nervous system healthy.

B12 deficiency has also been linked to facial pain.

The pain can also be felt across the forehead, occasionally coming down to the edge of the nose.

Other, more common signs of vitamin B12 deficiency include feeling tired, experiencing muscle weakness and being constipated.

Vitamin B12 deficiency can also lead to neuropathy.

This can cause a tingling or numbness in the hands, legs or feet.

The sensation frequently starts in the feet and moves to the hands.

The feelings may also be linked to problems with walking or even difficulty balancing.

People who may have difficulty getting enough vitamin B12 include vegetarians, older people and those with some digestive disorders, such as Crohn’s disease.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is easy to rectify with supplements or by dietary changes.

Vitamin B12 levels can be boosted through supplementation or by eating foods such as dairy, liver, salmon and eggs.

Fortified breakfast cereals also contain vitamin B12.

Dr John D. England, a neurologist at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, said:

“People with suspected nerve problems should talk to their doctors about screening tests, especially blood glucose, vitamin B12 level and serum protein levels, since these tests can often point to common causes of neuropathy.”

Dr England continued:

“There are many people with a neuropathy who have been walking around for years without having been diagnosed and treated.

Both neurologists and people with neuropathy need to know that the appropriate choice of tests is critical to accurate diagnosis.”

The guidelines were published in the American Academy of Neurology.

A Muscular Sign of Vitamin D Deficiency

Around half the world’s population is deficient in vitamin D.

Around half the world’s population is deficient in vitamin D.

Tiredness and weak muscles can be a sign of vitamin D deficiency, research finds.

As a result, people with low levels of vitamin D are at double the risk of mobility issues with age, scientists have found.

Other signs of vitamin D deficiency include poor sleep, symptoms of depression and headaches.

The vitamin is thought to play a role in regulating serotonin, a neurotransmitter important for mood.

Around half the world’s population is deficient in vitamin D.

The conclusions about mobility issues come from a study including 2,099 people aged 70-79 whose vitamin D levels were measured.

Dr Denise Houston, the study’s first author, explained the results:

“We observed about a 30 percent increased risk of mobility limitations for those older adults who had low levels of vitamin D, and almost a two-fold higher risk of mobility disability.”

Vitamin D is vital for muscle function and low levels have been linked to diseases including high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Dr Houston said:

“Higher amounts of vitamin D may be needed for the preservation of muscle strength and physical function as well as other health conditions.

However, clinical trials are needed to determine whether increasing vitamin D levels through diet or supplements has an effect on physical function.”

Vitamin D is critical to the functioning of the whole body.

From October to March many people in northern climes do not get enough vitamin D.

Vitamin D is found in oily fish, egg yolks, fortified cereals and some margarine spreads.

Most people need around 10 micrograms per day, which can also be obtained from supplements.

Vitamin D supports the mineral density of bones and aids neuromuscular function as well as reducing the risk of fracture.

The study was published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A (Houston et al., 2012).

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