OVER 50? YOU MAY BE B-12 DEFICIENT

We need Vitamin B-12 for metabolism—all the processes in the body that depend on energy. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), this includes such vital functions as breathing, circulating blood, digesting food and keeping our brain and nerves functioning.¹

Naturally, you want to do all you can to keep your body's storehouse of B-12 at a healthy level. But some people are more likely than others to suffer a Vitamin B-12 deficiency. You could have a B-12 deficiency if you:

• Are over age 50
• Follow a vegetarian or vegan diet
• Have had gastrointestinal surgery
• Have digestive disorders such as celiac or Crohn's disease¹

We all feel tired and listless sometimes, but if symptoms like these are part of daily life, you might be suffering from a Vitamin B-12 deficiency. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns healthcare providers to watch their patients for these signs of low Vitamin B-12 levels:

Key points about vitamin B12 deficiency anemia

• With this condition, your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells, due to a lack (deficiency) of vitamin B
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• It is one of several types of megaloblastic anemia.
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• Without enough red blood cells, your tissues and organs don’t get enough oxygen. Without enough oxygen, your body can’t work as well.

• Symptoms include weak muscles, numbness, trouble walking, nausea, weight loss, irritability, fatigue, and increased heart rate.
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• Treatment may include vitamin B₁₂ supplements. It is also important to eat a well-balanced diet.