4 Vitamin B12 Deficiency Symptoms You Need to Know

Written by Anne Jacobson, MD, MPH | Reviewed by Karla Robinson, MD

Key takeaways:

• Vitamin B12 is needed for healthy blood cells, nerve cells, and DNA. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include anemia and neurological issues. 
• You can be deficient in vitamin B12 if you don’t get enough B12 in your diet or your gut can’t absorb it.
• You can treat or manage vitamin B12 deficiency with supplements, injections, or nasal spray. Your provider will determine the best treatment for your vitamin B12 deficiency, based on the cause.

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that does its job quietly and efficiently inside the body. Vitamin B12 helps to make new DNA and keep nerve and blood cells healthy. It also helps our cells break down proteins and fats for energy. 

Most people get enough vitamin B12 in their diet and absorb it through the digestive system. But some diets and certain health conditions may lead to a deficiency of this important vitamin, especially as you get older.

What is vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is one of the B-complex vitamins. It’s not made by the body, so we need it in our diet. Vitamin B12 is not made by plants, either. It’s found in animal products, in foods where B12 has been added, or in supplement form. 

Teens and adults need about 2.4 mcg of vitamin B12 every day. Pregnant people need around 2.6 mcg, and those who are breastfeeding need 2.8 mcg of vitamin B12 per day. Infants and children need 0.4 mcg to 1.8 mcg, depending on their age.

• Where can you get it? B12 can be found in everyday animal-based foods — like beef, seafood, poultry, and dairy.
• Do you need a B12 supplement? If your vitamin B12 levels are consistently low, a healthcare professional may recommend a prescription supplement to raise your levels to a normal range.
• How much per day? Find out how much vitamin B12 you really need, and what happens if you take too much.

Common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency

Not having enough vitamin B12 can cause complications in multiple body systems. That’s because vitamin B12 is needed for making certain cells, proper cell function, and repair. Having a vitamin B12 deficiency can affect how well your body makes new blood cells, nerve cells, and DNA.

Let’s take a closer look at four common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.

1. Anemia

Low B12 levels cause a kind of anemia, or low blood count. Sometimes, the blood cells become large, or macrocytic, before a person becomes anemic.

Symptoms of anemia might include:

• Feeling tired or having low energy
• Pale skin
• Feeling short of breath, especially with movement
• Having less of an appetite or losing weight without trying
• Headaches
• Feeling dizzy or like you might faint
• Fast or irregular heartbeat

2. Nerve damage

Vitamin B12 is also important for nerve cells to function. B12 deficiency can affect the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) or the peripheral nerves that go to the rest of the body. 

Symptoms of nerve damage from B12 deficiency can include:

• Tingling, or a pins-and-needles sensation
• Depression, irritability, or confusion
• Changes in vision
• Memory loss
• Problems with balance

3. Birth defects

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