Vegetarian Diet and B12 Deficiency

Long known that a strict vegetarian diet –one that excludes all animal products can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency, and possibly heart disease. Vitamin B12 has many important functions in the body. It works with the B vitamin folate to make our body’s genetic material. It helps to keep levels of the amino acid homocysteine in check, which may help decrease heart disease risk, and it is essential to the production of red blood cells, which carry oxygen through the blood to the body’s tissues. Unlike some other vitamins, B12 is not found in any plant food other than fortified cereals. It is however, abundant in many meats and fish, and in smaller amounts in milk and eggs. This makes difficult for the people following a strict vegetarian diet to get the necessary amount of vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia.





Symptoms of vitamins B12 deficiency, which usually come on gradually, include fatigue, weakness, nausea, and constipation. Long term and severe vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to nerve changes such as numbness, tingling in the hands and feet balance.
A blood test is the best way to test for vitamin B12 deficiency and it is recommended for every vegetarian.