Is there anything to worry about by not taking enough Vitamin B, especially Vitamin B12 because i am a Vegan?

We asked the local NHS advisor in regards to this topic.

What is Vitamin B12 Deficiency and who is at risk?

The Science first!

You might not have any symptoms if your vitamin B12 level is just a little bit low. However, a very low vitamin B12 level can cause anemia, depression, dementia or a serious problem with your nervous system.

Some people with low vitamin B12 also have high levels of homocysteine, an amino acid (a building block of protein) in the blood. If you have both of these problems, you may have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.

Anemia

Anemia is a condition that occurs when there are a reduced number of red blood cells, or hemoglobin concentration.

There are several different types of anemia, and each one has a different cause. The most common form of the condition is iron deficiency anemia. This is where your body lacks enough iron to keep your red blood cells functioning properly. Other forms of anemia can be caused by a lack of vitamin B12, or foliate, in your body.

Fatigue and lethargy, Dyspnoea, Faintness, Palpitations, Headache, Tinnitus, Anorexia are symptoms of Anemia.

The following are signs you need to watch out for and if you suspect you have any of the following we advise you seek medical advise from your doctor.

'Lemon tinge' to skin (due to pallor and haemolysis-induced jaundice). This is usually of gradual onset.
Glossitis (red, sore tongue).
Neuropsychiatries irritability, depression, psychosis, dementia.
Neurological impaired responses to vibration, touch, pain, and position; visual disturbance; abnormal gait.

Even though the science sounds nasty all is not lost:
The main people who come into the risk group is Vegan's simply because Vitamin B12 comes from animal products. Yet with the miracles of science this does not have to be the case. There are plenty of substitutes on the market nowadays so in summary, it seems that vegetarians who consume enough calories face very little chance of developing a B12 deficiency. But let's face it, parents would like total assurance that they and their children will not be at risk. For them I would suggest a multivitamin containing B12, a fortified breakfast cereal, fortified soy milk, or fortified meat substitutes. Some forms of nutritional yeast contain adequate amounts of B12. These non-animal sources are fine; just read the labels.