Alarming rise in vitamin B12 deficiency Radha Sharma TNN Ahmedabad:Nikita Shah,a 38-yearold working woman in Vejalpur,was suffering from unexplained low moods with bouts of irritability.A month later,she suffered a severe neurological attack and was almost debilitated with tingling and numbness in her legs and hands.She was taken to the emergency ward of a hospital where doctors found that she had lost temporary control over her the movement of her limbs. A detailed investigation revealed that Nikita was suffering from severely low vitamin B12 levels.She was advised to take injections followed by a prolonged course of tablets.The recovery was dramatic with the numbness disappearing with the first injection.Now,my frequent mood swings are also under control.I did not know a simple vitamin deficiency can cause such havoc on the body and mind, says Nikita,who is back at work. Doctors say Nikita is not an isolated case in the city.There is an alarming rise in the number of people being diagnosed with the deficiency of this very important vitamin for the body.The main factors to be blamed are poor diet,which is primarily vegetarian.Doctors also say that use of processed water,which strips the drinking water of essential minerals and trace elements apart from removing excess salt,could be one of the contributing factors. Of the hundreds of people,including corporate executives and NRIs who opt for health check-up plans,a massive 50 per cent are found to have low or severely low vitamin B12 levels.Most of the people complain of chronic fatigue,numbness and tingling sensation in the hand and feet,poor memory as well as unexplained mood disorders, says Dr Shwetal Gadhvi,health check-up consultant in Medisurge Hospital.Doctors say that low B12 deficiency causes anaemia as well as neurological problems as this vitamin forms a neural sheath around the nerves. Importantly,the deficiency is affecting people from all economic sections.Kishore Dedhia,a leading real estate consultant,was surprised that despite taking a decent diet and doing regular pranayam and yoga,he felt physically and mentally low.There was this strange fatigue and I would feel low in spirits.After a relative was diagnosed with B12 deficiency having suffered severe muscle cramps,I got tests done and was found to have severely low B12 levels, said Dedhia. According to Dr Pragnesh Vachchrajani,secretary of Gujarat Family Physicians Association,while vegetarian diet is a big culprit,people are compounding matters by eating junk food and avoiding regular milk consumption.Other doctors say that for people,especially in western parts,who do not have access to Narmada waters,drinking hard water is not advisable as it could have its own side-effects.The better solution is to include more animal products,including milk and cheese in diet. SYMPTOMS ARE... Loss of appetite Diarrhoea Numbness Paleness Fatigue Sore mouth and tongue Anaemia Poor memory Sources of vitamin B12 Vegetarians: Milk & milk products,fortified breakfast cereals Non-vegetarians : Eggs,chicken and fish
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 07:23:28 +0000
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