- Dementia - Alzheimer’s disease
- Depression (Post Natal & psychosis)
- Bipolar disorder
- Peripheral Neuropathy (diabetic, CIDP)
- Vertigo
- Anaemia - any form
- Congestive heart failure (CHF)
- Autism, ADHD
- Cerebral palsy
- Seizures / Epilepsy
- AIDS dementia complex / HIV
- Restless leg syndrome
- Radiculopathy, chronic pain disorder
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
- Fibromyalgia
- Chronic renal failure (haemodialysis patients)
- Essential tremor - Parkinson’s like symptoms
- Erectile dysfunction and impotence
- Hepatitis C
- SACD (subacute combined degeneration of spinal cord)
- Cervical Spondylosis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Cancer
- Optic neuritis or optic atrophy
- Macular degeneration
- Hyperhomocysteinemia
Anyone, at any age, can become B12 deficient. However, certain people are at an elevated risk. They include the following;
People...
- that are vegetarians, vegans and people on macrobiotic diets
- aged fifty and over
- who've undergone any gastric and/or intestinal surgery, including bariatric surgery for weight loss purposes (gastric bypass)
- who regularly use proton-pump inhibitors, H2 blockers, antacids, Metformin and related diabetes drugs, or other medication which can interfere with B12 absorption
- Nitrous oxide administration or abuse
- with a history of eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia)
- with a history of alcoholism
- with a family history of pernicious anaemia
- diagnosed with anaemia (including iron deficiency anaemia, sickle cell anaemia, and thalassemia)
- with Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, coeliac disease, or any other disease that causes malabsorbtion of nutrients
- with autoimmune disorders (especially thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Graves' disease), type 1 diabetes, vitiligo, lupus, Addison's disease, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis, acquired agammaglobulinemia, or a family history of these disorders
- with neurologic or motor symptoms
- with Downs syndrome
- with Phenylketonuria (PKU)
- with psychiatric disorders, including depression, bipolar etc
- with elevated MCV (mean corpuscular volume)
- with occlusive vascular disorders (MI, CVA, DVT, PE)
- Orthostatic hypotension / Postural hypotension
- Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs, or 'mini stroke')
- Cerebral vascular accident (CVA or 'stroke')
- Myocardial infraction ('heart attack')
- DVT - Deep vein thrombosis (blood clot to the leg or arm)
- with Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- who've undergone neck or back surgery
- Who've undergone Chemo or radiation therapy
Women . . .
- with a history or infertility or multiple miscarriages
- with post natal depression
- Nitrous oxide administration (laughing gas)
Infants . . .
- born to and/or breast-fed by women who are symptomatic or are at risk for B12 deficiency
- Infants and children with developmental delay
Information provided with kind permission of Sally M. Pacholok R.N. & Dr. Jeffrey J. Stuart.
