08 Jul The Vitamin That People Don’t Get Enough Of
We all know that it is important to get our daily dose of vitamins. However, the majority of people today aren’t getting all of the vitamins they need, and they are definitely not getting enough of certain vitamins.
However, you may be surprised by what specific vitamin most people are lacking—and just how easy it can be to start reintroducing that vitamin into your life.
The vitamins that so many of us know about but so few of us get enough of are B vitamins.
If you are feeling sluggish, weak or anemic then chances are, you may not be getting enough of these vitamins. This is because this group of eight vitamins, known as B vitamins, are critical to your metabolism—and are responsible for converting food into energy.
This isn’t all that B vitamins do either. These vitamins can help with:
Blood cell production
DNA production and repair
Neurological function
Cellular signaling
Metabolizing amino acids
Stress and anxiety reduction
Lowering the risk of heart disease
Memory loss
B vitamins are important. However, to make sure that our bodies have enough B vitamins, we need to be continually replenishing them, as B vitamins are water soluble. This means they aren’t stored in the body in the way that other vitamins are, and the vitamins that aren’t used will automatically get flushed out of the system.
Simply put, we need to get B vitamins daily in our lives in either to avoid developing a B vitamin deficiency. The good news is, in general, while you may feel some symptoms and side effects from not having enough B vitamins, actual vitamin deficiency is relatively rare. When vitamin deficiencies do happen; however, here are some of the most common types of B vitamin deficiencies you should be on the lookout for.
Vitamin B1 Deficiency
While uncommon, a vitamin B1 deficiency can become a serious and potentially life-threatening problem. It is most common in people with chronic alcoholism, older adults, individuals with HIV or Aids, people who have undergone bariatric surgery, and those who have diabetes.
Signs of this type of deficiency include fatigue, irritability, sleep issues, poor memory, and abdominal discomfort.
Vitamin B6 Deficiency
This deficiency is common in those with poor renal function and those with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis. It is also common in individuals with Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and celiac disease.
Signs of this deficiency include anemia, weakened immune function, confusion, depression, scaling, seborrheic dermatitis, and seizures.
Vitamin B9 Deficiency
Also known as folate deficiency, this condition is most common in women of childbearing age who are non-Hispanic, black. Pregnant women may also not get enough folate in their diets either.
Signs of this deficiency include soreness; ulcerations on the tongue; pigmentary changes in skin, hair, and fingernails; and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
This deficiency in common in the United States and is perhaps the most common of all of them that we’ve listed. It is most common in people with stomach and small intestine disorders like celiac or Crohn’s disease.
Signs of this deficiency include weakness, fatigue, constipation, weight loss, loss of appetite, confusion, or difficulty maintaining balance.
The good news is, with a few tweaks to your diet and a daily B vitamin supplement, you can avoid being at risk for these conditions.
If you have more questions about vitamin B or other ways you can help improve your diet and supplement intake—give Continuum Internal Medicine a call today. You can reach us at 817-617-8600 to schedule an appointment today.