|
The human body stores several years' worth of vitamin B-12, so nutritional deficiency of this vitamin is extremely rare.
However, deficiency can result from being unable to use vitamin B-12. Inability to absorb vitamin B-12 from the intestinal tract can be caused by a disease known as pernicious anemia. Additionally, strict vegetarians or vegans who are not taking in proper amounts of B-12 by way of supplements are also prone to a deficiency state.
Low levels of B-12 can cause anemia as well as numbness or tingling in the extremities and other neurologic symptoms such as weakness and loss of balance.
|
