So why should we be concerned about lacking this vitamin? For starters, it can affect your daily functioning in a wide range of ways, such as causing brain fog and lethargy. Below, we highlight facts about this nutrient deficiency. 

B12 deficiency facts

• • Signs of B12 deficiency may include: poor cognitive function (memory issues), infertility, feelings of numbness (especially with the hands and feet), unexplained weight loss, pale appearance of skin, heart palpitations and infertility. 
  • You may be at risk of forming this vitamin inadequacy due to: aging (seniors), excessive alcohol intake, being vegetarian or vegan, H. pylori infection, gastrointestinal surgery, malabsorption from a chronic condition, and AIDS.
  • A B12 deficiency can cause a type of anemia called pernicious anemia. It’s an autoimmune disease that prevents the body from absorbing this vitamin. It can cause several health concerns, such as digestive issues, damages to the nervous system that can potentially weaken brain health (i.e. dementia), cardiovascular issues, and chronic fatigue. Pernicious anemia can be present in the body without symptoms, as it can take several years before symptoms are developed. 
  • Treatments can be individualistic and may consist of altering your dietary intake of nutrients, consuming oral supplementation, and possibly getting injection therapy. If you’re on prescription medications, some medications can interact with B12 supplements. Metformin and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a few examples. This is why it’s necessary to consult with your healthcare provider prior to taking any B12 oral supplementation or injection therapy.

Do you want to nourish your body with nutrients, such as B12, vitamin C or glutamic acid? Let’s test your current levels of vitamins, minerals, and more with our functional medicine lab tests. The TFMC offers a personalized nutritional assessment/metabolomics test, which may not be available at some conventional medicine clinics. This non-invasive urine test measures nutritional biomarkers to help detect deficits of major antioxidants, fatty acids, B vitamins, and more. 

Become a new TFMC patient and request your initial visit – read about our approach to wellness in the next section. 

Suggested reading: Deciphering Vitamin D Types with Functional Medicine and Toronto IV Therapy

Access your treatment plan in our clinic and IV Lounge

At the TFMC, we adhere to the integrative functional medicine model, which emphasizes the uniqueness of each individual patient. This involves designing treatment plans for every patient in our clinic. When a treatment service is adapted for your needs, you may come across some surprising beneficial effects, such as heightened energy levels and improved metabolism. This is because therapies are tailored for your biological shortcomings – and nobody else’s! Our TFMC health providers can adapt therapies for a range of conditions, including chronic inflammation, autoimmune diseases, poor skin elasticity, fatty liver disease, cellular damage, food sensitivities, hormonal imbalances, infertility, chronic fatigue syndrome, and more. 

We personalize treatments using functional medicine lab testing (i.e. complete blood count, gut health assessment, DUTCH testing, nutritional assessments, etc.), while scrutinizing the core components of your wellness. This entails understanding your personal health goals, lifestyle and environmental factors, and medical history (genetics). Once we’ve gathered pertinent information, we can modify your therapy treatments. Your treatment plan may include conventional medicine, naturopathic medicine, holistic nutrition, acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbal remedies, hormone replacement therapies, and more. 

Our exclusive IV Lounge can be accessed by our patients, too, and intravenous therapy and booster shots may be added to your treatment plan. A custom-made IV drip can contribute to optimal function when combined with healthy lifestyle factors (i.e. exercise, balanced diet) and additional therapies. Our menu consists of an array of natural ingredients for IV nutrient therapy, including vitamin A, vitamin E, ascorbic acid, vitamin B6, amino acids, glutathione, and more. Intravenous drips can also be tailored for unique health goals; for example, we can freshly compound an anti-aging IV drip or post-surgical drip with anti-inflammatory components!

IV therapy drips are uniquely dosed according to functional medicine principles. Safety is a priority, which is why vitamin IV sessions are monitored by our wellness team (medical and naturopathic doctors, registered nurses and nurse practitioners). 

A nutrient deficiency can halt your journey towards optimal health. But our functional medicine provider can offer you core tests and a tailored treatment service! Call us to personalize your IV therapy from Toronto. 

Disclaimer: The information in this article is designed for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. This information should not be used to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting a doctor. You should always consult with a health care practitioner before relying on any information in this article or on this website. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider because of information you have read from the Toronto Functional Medicine Centre website or other affiliate media. 

References

Agata Sobczyńska-Malefora, Edgard Delvin, Andrew McCaddon, Kourosh R. Ahmadi & Dominic J. Harrington (2021) Vitamin B12 status in health and disease: a critical review. Diagnosis of deficiency and insufficiency – clinical and laboratory pitfalls , Critical Reviews in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, 58:6, 399-429, DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2021.1885339

Ankar A, Kumar A. Vitamin B12 Deficiency. [Updated 2022 Oct 22]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441923/

Green, R., Allen, L., Bjørke-Monsen, AL. et al. Vitamin B12 deficiency. Nat Rev Dis Primers 3, 17040 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrdp.2017.40

“Pernicious anemia” from the Cleveland Clinic, reviewed February 7, 2022, viewed on January 26, 2024. 

Vaqar S, Shackelford KB. Pernicious Anemia. [Updated 2023 May 8]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK540989/

“Vitamin B12” fact sheet for health professionals from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), updated December 15, 2023, viewed on January 26, 2024. 

Wolffenbuttel, B. H., Wouters, H. J., Heiner-Fokkema, M. R., & Van der Klauw, M. M. (2019). The Many Faces of Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) Deficiency. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes, 3(2), 200-214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2019.03.002