The numbing of hands, arms, and legs is a feeling people are all familiar with. Frequent numbness can be completely harmless, but that doesn’t mean we should ignore the potential health risks associated to it. It points to many suspects, ranging from something simple as poor sleeping position and as serious as Vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12, also known as Cobalamin, is vital for numerous functions, including red blood cell production, DNA and protein synthesis, fat and carbohydrate metabolism, and brain maintenance. Like all other B-vitamins, it is water-soluble, thus cannot cause toxicity.

However, insufficient Vitamin B12 levels can pose serious health risks. Early indications include weakness, weight loss, constipation, sore mouth and tongue, and numbness of arms and legs, while marginal deficiency can even lead to more serious risks such as depression, peripheral neuropathy, and poor coordination.

While Vitamin B12 can be found in various food sources, many people are still deficient in this vitamin.

In fact, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) posits that vegetarians are more prone to Vitamin B12 deficiency, as their diet is generally meat-free. This is due to the fact that most Vitamin B12 food sources are not plant-based.

To boost your Vitamin B12 levels, FNRI suggests eating sardines, red meat, eggs, and milk.

Discover more interesting facts about Vitamin B12 below:

Ask your physician about nutrient testing to find out if you have low Cobalamin levels. An accurate diagnosis of your cobalamin level can help your doctor recommend a personalized dietary and supplementation plan that will maintain sufficient Vitamin B12 stores.

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