VITAMIN DEFICIT: Certain medications can deplete your reserves of vitamin B12, leading to fatigue (Image: Getty)
Standard medical treatments can sometimes have quiet consequences for our nutritional health. Niamh McMillan of Superdrug Pharmacy notes that certain routine prescriptions are known to lower vitamin levels, leading to physical symptoms that are frequently misdiagnosed.
Understanding this correlation allows for a more proactive approach to health, ensuring that neurological well-being isn’t compromised by the very treatments meant to support it. Vitamin B12 plays a critical role in supporting our nervous system and the production of healthy red blood cells. Because the signs of a shortfall often emerge gradually, they can be difficult to detect during their early stages.
Niamh explained: “Vitamin B12 is essential for keeping our nerves and blood cells healthy, and a deficiency can sometimes develop slowly, meaning symptoms are easy to miss at first. Common signs to look out for include ongoing tiredness or weakness, shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, pale skin, and a sore or red tongue.”
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Beyond physical exhaustion, many individuals report neurological changes such as ‘pins and needles’ or persistent numbness in their extremities. The Superdrug Pharmacy superintendent added: “Some people may also experience pins and needles, numbness in the hands or feet, memory problems, difficulty concentrating, or low mood.”
This condition arises when the body either lacks sufficient intake or loses the ability to effectively process the nutrient. While vegans and vegetarians are often susceptible due to dietary restrictions, older adults and those with digestive issues like Crohn’s are also vulnerable, reports Neil Shaw on SurreyLive.
“B12 deficiency occurs when the body doesn’t get enough of the vitamin or can’t absorb it properly. This can be more common in people who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, as B12 is mainly found in animal products,” Niamh explained. Certain pharmaceutical treatments, including long-term acid-reducing medications and diabetes drugs, can further hinder absorption.
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A variety of clinical treatments can unintentionally interfere with the way your digestive system extracts B12 from your diet. This often happens because the medicine modifies the stomach’s acidity, which is necessary to release the vitamin into the bloodstream.
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs): Common reflux drugs like omeprazole and lansoprazole.Metformin: Frequently used for blood sugar management in Type 2 diabetes.H2 blockers: Acid-reducing treatments such as famotidine.Nitrous oxide: Frequently used for sedation in dentistry and maternity care (as ‘gas and air’), this can deactivate the body’s existing B12 stores. Antibiotics: Prolonged use of specific types can disrupt the gut bacteria required for processing the vitamin.
Prioritising B12-rich foods like eggs, dairy, and lean meats is a primary defence against developing a deficit. For those on plant-based diets, fortified cereals and milk alternatives serve as vital nutritional substitutes.