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Tired All the Time: When to Ask Your Doctor About Vitamin B12
Feeling tired all the time is really common. And there are a lot of possible reasons: poor sleep, stress, thyroid problems, anaemia, and more. Low vitamin B12 is one of them, and it's worth knowing about, especially if you're vegetarian.
Signs that can come with low B12
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) lists these symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency:
- feeling extremely tired, with no energy
- pins and needles
- a sore, red tongue and mouth ulcers
- weak muscles
- problems with your eyesight
- low mood, and trouble with memory, understanding and judgement
The NHS also says some of these can happen even if you don't have anaemia.
Why you shouldn't wait
Lots of these symptoms get better with treatment. But the NHS warns that some problems caused by a deficiency can become permanent if it isn't treated. So if you think you might be low, see a doctor sooner rather than later.
Who's more likely to run low?
According to the NHS and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), people at higher risk include:
- Vegetarians and vegans, especially if they eat little dairy and no fortified foods
- Older adults
- People with pernicious anaemia, a condition where the immune system stops B12 from being absorbed
- People with coeliac disease or Crohn's disease, or who've had stomach surgery
- People who take certain medicines for a long time, like metformin, acid-reducing tablets or some anticonvulsants
How it's checked
The NHS says a deficiency can often be diagnosed from your symptoms and a blood test. Your doctor will decide what to test and how to treat it.
Test, don't guess
It's tempting to just start a supplement and see if you feel better. But tiredness has so many causes, and a test tells you whether B12 is really the problem. If you're vegetarian, our guide to vitamin B12 foods for vegetarians shows how everyday dairy adds up.
Getting ready for your appointment
The NHS suggests seeing a doctor if you've felt tired for a few weeks without knowing why. The same goes if it's affecting your daily life. A little preparation helps your doctor find the cause faster.
Before you go, jot down:
- how long you've felt tired, and whether it's getting worse
- what a normal day of eating looks like, including how much milk, curd or paneer you have
- every medicine and supplement you take, including tablets for diabetes or acidity
- any other changes, like weight loss, low mood, tingling or a sore tongue
- how you sleep, and whether anyone has heard you snore loudly or gasp at night
Don't be surprised if your doctor checks more than B12. The NHS says blood tests for tiredness can look for things like anaemia, diabetes or an overactive thyroid.
Take your notes with you. Appointments can be short, and it's easy to forget things once you're in the room.
The short version
- Tiredness, tingling, a sore tongue and memory trouble can all come with low B12.
- Vegetarians, older adults and people on some medicines are more at risk.
- A simple blood test can tell you, so ask your doctor.
What to look for in vegetarian supplements in India
Plant-based supplements in India are easy to find now. But "plant-based" on the front of a pack doesn't tell you everything. If you're vegetarian, turn the pack around and check these:
- The veg or non-veg declaration. FSSAI asks supplement makers to show this on the label.
- The B12 amount in one serving, with the % of the daily allowance next to it.
- A "Recommended usage" line, plus a warning not to take more than that.
A trusted health supplement brand in India makes all of this easy to find, so you don't have to ask.
If your doctor suggests a supplement
Niroza Plant-Based Vitamin B12 gives 2.2 µg of vitamin B12 in 2 veg capsules (as stated on the label). The label suggests 1 capsule twice a day with lukewarm water, or as your doctor advises, for adults over 18. If you've been diagnosed with a deficiency, follow the treatment your doctor prescribes.
This post is for general information, not medical advice. Niroza products aren't meant to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, and they don't replace a varied diet.