Symptoms of Vitamin B Deficiency

The B complex vitamins are extremely important in their relationship to depression,  irritability and thoughts of suicide.

The following is a guide to the B group vitamins and the symptoms of each vitamin B deficiency.

Folic acid; Is a part of the vitamin B family and is important for DNA synthesis.  Folic acid supplements are advised for women who are pregnant because it protects the developing fetus from neural tube defects.  You may have a shortage of folic acid from poor diet or if you are ill, drink alcohol regularly, and use drugs such as aspirin, barbiturates, anticonvulsants, and birth control pills.

Vitamin B1; Also known as thiamin is needed to convert blood sugar into fuel.  A deficiency in this area will lead to fatigue, irritability, anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide.  Lack of thiamine causes the brain to run out of energy and may cause gastrointestinal disorders, memory problems, insomnia, and loss of appetite.  If we consume too many refined carbohydrates, it will drain our body of B1.  Refined carbohydrates are sugar and products made with sugar.

Vitamin B3; Also known as niacin is so important that many manufactured foods are now fortified with it.  Agitation, anxiety, mental and physical slowness are all signs of this vitamin B3 deficiency.

Vitamin B5; Is Pantothenic acid and it is needed for hormone formation and the use of amino acids and the manufacture of acetlcholine, which helps combat certain types of depression.  If you are lacking in this important vitamin you may be feeling chronic stress, fatigue, and depression.

Vitamin B6; (pyridoxine)  Alcoholics, kidney failure patients, and women using birth control pills are most at risk of this vitamin B deficiency. Symptoms are skin lesions, mental confusion, and a lowered immunity.  

Vitamin B12; Is important to life and health and to almost every cell and system, including blood and the nervous system. Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms are mood swings, paranoia, irritability, hallucinations, listlessness, confusion and dementia.  It can also cause physical problems such as loss of appetite, dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and a tingling sensation in the arms and legs.

A rare kind of Vitamin B12 deficiency can result in Pernicious Anemia, this is serious and needs to be treated with regular Vitamin B12 injections.

Note; I suffer from Pernicious Anemia and my symptoms were only extreme loss of weight, run down and no energy. I finally found a doctor who took the time to do a few tests that were then diagnosed as this severe vitamin B12 deficiency. So take heed, Doctors do not always get it right, ask for another opinion!

The above symptoms are sometimes confused with Alzheimer's Disease or may simply be attributed to 'aging'

If you suspect you may have a vitamin B deficiency get medical help. Blood tests can diagnose vitamin deficiency and levels of the vitamin can be increased in various ways - pills, nasal gels and injections.

Lots more Vitamin Information including 'B' vitamins and chronic pain, Vitamins for you pets, Vitamins for your Hair, Nutritional Vitamin Supplements and more