Vitamin B12 deficiency: Could your depression, anxiety and insomnia be caused by low level
Dr Dawn Harper on signs of vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiency
Vitamin B12 plays a vital role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and other brain functions. Having low levels of B12 may be linked to a number of psychiatric disorders including depression, memory loss, anxiety and schizophrenic symptoms.
Cobalamin (Vitamin B12), a water-soluble essential vitamin, has a vital role in DNA synthesis during cell division, said the Journal of Neuropsychiatry.
The health site continued: “It is also linked with synthesis of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, and thus has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various neuropsychiatric disorders.
“In earlier times, a one-carbon hypothesis of schizophrenia was hypothesized, citing impaired transmethylation leading to an accumulation of toxic metabolites.
“Although varied psychiatric manifestations caused by vitamin B12 deficiency have been described, the possibility of psychiatric disorders being caused by B12 deficiency is often overlooked.”
We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.
Among the most common psychiatric symptoms seen in people with B12 deficiency are the following:
- Confusion/disorientation
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Suicidal ideation
- Psychosis
- Mania
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
DON’T MISS
Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms: The sign in your chest [SYMPTOMS]
Vitamin B12 deficiency: A urinary problem could be a sign [SIGNS]
Vitamin B12 deficiency – common sign you may not be noticing [SYMPTOMS]
- Irritability
- Apathy
- Personality changes
- Inappropriate sexual behaviour
- Violent/aggressive behaviour
- Schizophrenic symptoms
- Sleep disturbances
- Insomnia
- Changes in taste, smell, vision, and sensory/motor function which can mistook for psychiatric problems
In a study published in the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, obsessive compulsive disorder as an early manifestation of a B12 deficiency was investigated.
The study noted: “B12 acts as a cofactor in synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, thus B12 deficiency affects mood, emotions and sleeping and can lead to psychiatric disorders.
“A case report of a 29-year-old female came with anxiety and history of OCD for 11 years ago and had a history of menorrhagia.
“History taking revealed anxiety, changes in mood and OCD.
“Further investigations showed mild anaemia and markedly diminished serum cobalamin level to and also iron deficiency with significantly decreased ferritin level.
“The association between B12 deficiency and iron deficiency in this case was our explanation to her anaemia.
“Diagnosis of B12 deficiency with OCD manifestation and concurrent iron deficiency was made and a B12 and oral iron replacement therapy initiated.
“In this 29-year-old female, OCD was the early manifestation of a B12 deficiency.
“Although, it was rarely reported, psychiatric and mood disorders may be the first manifestation of B12 deficiency and precede anaemia.
“We recommend checking serum B12 and folate level in any case with psychiatric disorders such as OCD, even in the absence of anaemia and other hematologic manifestations of B12 and/or folate deficiencies.
“B12 replacement therapy can resolve symptoms of psychiatric disorders in patients with B12 deficiency.”
The study concluded that although it is rare but psychiatric manifestations of B12 deficiency may precede anaemia as we saw in this case.
Source: Read Full Article