Hair Loss is one of the concerns shared by many of us within our society, both males and females alike. If this begins to happen to you, it is important to remember that losing your hair could be the result of a b12 vitamin deficiency, so you should get your condition checked out by your doctor.
Whilst your body actually requires very low levels of vitamin B12 on a daily basis, it is nevertheless an essential vitamin that is very much required in order for your body to function effectively. If you begin to experience hair loss, mental confusion, fatigue or anaemia, it could be your body’s way of telling you that it has a b12 vitamin deficiency problem.
So what exactly does your body need the vitamin B12 for? Well this vitamin is essential for maintaining a healthy nervous system as well as being essential for the normal metabolic function of all of cells. Can you believe that due to its importance to the functioning of our systems, our bodies have even developed a way of recycling the vitamin from other sources within them, such as bile, and our systems are able to store vitamin b12 for up to six years?
Now, it’s ok to wonder, if the body does such a good job in both the recycling and storing of this vitamin, just how do we develop a deficiency?
The answer to that is; a B12 vitamin deficiency is more likely to occur in people who have intestinal or stomach problems. Healthy intestines contain an enzyme which is necessary for the body to be able to effectively absorb vitamin B12 and without this enzyme it is likely that we will develop a vitamin deficiency. So even if your hair loss is not obviously a visible sign of something being wrong, there could be a more serious underlying medical condition at its root, that needs to be diagnosed and treated.
People who suffer from pernicious anaemia are also more at risk of developing a B12 vitamin deficiency. It is important to note here as well that for this group of people, simply boosting their intake of the correct foods may not be enough to combat the deficiency and vitamin B12 injections may be required. In addition, once we reach the age of 50 we have more chance of developing a deficiency in this vitamin since the body begins to limit the secretions that are required to separate out the vitamin from other food proteins.
If your medical doctor establishes that a b12 vitamin deficiency is causing your hair loss then s/he will probably recommend a change in your diet to boost your intake of certain foods. Generally the best sources of vitamin B12 are considered to be meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk and other dairy products. Failing this, or if the doctor believes that your condition requires it, a vitamin supplement may be recommended.