Let’s talk about the first sign of methylcobalamin deficiency.

Methylcobalamin is vitamin B12, and it’s essential for DNA, red blood cells, and your myelin sheath. Vitamin B12 also helps support your spinal column and brain.

If you’re deficient in vitamin B12, you could experience tingling, numbness, or burning sensations.

Other signs of vitamin B12 deficiency can include:

• Chronic pain

• Depression

• Muscle wasting

• Blurry vision

• Tinnitus

• Anemia

• Mouth ulcers

• Sore throat

• Hair loss

You could also experience symptoms if you have too much vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 toxicity will typically occur if you’re taking too much synthetic vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin)—not the natural version (methylcobalamin).

Cyanocobalamin can build up in the body and cause symptoms such as:

• Acne

• Palpitations

• Anxiety

• Red cheeks

• Headaches

• Insomnia

• Akathisia

• Suicidal thoughts

You could be deficient in vitamin B12 long before you start to feel any effects. But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t damage being done. One of the first symptoms you would eventually feel is extreme fatigue.

Foods high in vitamin B12 are animal products. There is no vitamin B12 in plants.

Top causes of vitamin B12 deficiency:

• Malabsorption

• Plant-based or vegan diets

• Gastric bypass

• Atrophy of the stomach

• Gastritis

• H. pylori infection

• Ulcers

• Inflammation in the intestines

• Aspirin

• Alcohol

• Junk foods

• Antibiotics

• Antacids or PPIs

• Birth control pills

• Pregnancy

• Lactation

• Smoking

• Polymorphism