Vitamin B12 is vital for many processes in the body, and not getting enough can have a detrimental effect.
A lack of vitamin B12 will result in the body failing to make enough red blood cells and they’ll become abnormally large.
Short supplies of red blood cells cause the body’s tissues and organs to be deprived of oxygen, and this can trigger anaemia.
Anaemia can lead to heart and lung problems as the heart struggles to get oxygen to vital organs.
There are a variety of different symptoms which can indicate a vitamin B12 deficiency.
One sign, which could mean you have the condition, is having a certain eye colour.
If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency you could develop jaundice, according to Bupa.
This makes a person look pale or have a yellowy tinge to the skin.
The eyes can also be affected, with the whites turning yellow.
As well as this sign in the eyes, three symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can be spotted when you go to the toilet.
Gas, constipation and diarrhoea can all point to a vitamin b12 deficiency, according to the US National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
These are all symptoms linked to the digestive tract, which can be impacted in the case of a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Your digestive health relies on the healthy function of your stomach, small and large intestines, the colon and the rectum, and these tissues rely on B vitamins.
Low intake of vitamin B12 affects the digestive tract, and a severe deficiency paralyses the muscle tissue in the lining of the digestive tract, hindering intestinal function.
The body doesn’t make vitamin B12 but the best way to get it is from a balanced diet.