Drop In Body Temperature Could Mean a Vitamin B12 Deficiency

by TK Sanders July 15, 2022, 1:40 pm 142 Views 98 Comments

Feeling unnaturally cold or shivering without a fever could indicate a Vitamin B12 deficiency, according to researchers. The condition usually develops when the body either cannot absorb the naturally occurring B12 from the food it digests; or the person’s diet simply does not provide enough resources to adequately fuel the body.

Vitamin B12 is an important nutrient that helps your body make both red blood cells and DNA, the genetic material that comprises the cells. It also helps to maintain nerve cells and regulate neurology. Unfortunately, the body does not produce the vitamin in any form naturally; so everyone needs to consume it via the foods they eat.

Animal products such as red meat, eggs, and dairy provide more than enough nutritional support for the body. Other fortified foods like breads and cereals also often contain enough B12 to fuel the body daily.

Vitamin B12 absorption is a two-step process for the human body. First, hydrochloric acid in your stomach removes vitamin from the food that you ate. Next, the vitamin combines with something called intrinsic factor, a protein made by your stomach. The digestive system then churns through the food to extract all micro-nutrients needed to thrive.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is very treatable, so be sure to talk to your doctor regularly about blood tests

Without enough micronutrients like B12, cells in the body get lethargic and oxygen stagnates. The cells need the power to move freely throughout the body; if blood flow cannot reach the extremities, you’ll feel cold, especially in your hands and feet. This condition is better-known as anemia.

Health experts estimate that somewhere between five and 15 percent of people worldwide suffer from a vitamin B12 deficiency in some form. Other than anemia, other contributing factors of the condition are gastritis, digestive diseases like Crohn’s, and certain surgeries like gastric bypass. Fatigue, nausea, lack of appetite, sore mouth or tongue, and yellowish skin all point towards vitamin B12 deficiencies, as well.

If the condition is left untreated, some serious health problems can arise. Peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord degeneration, and paralysis are all possible for severe cases.

Luckily, even if your diet does not provide enough micronutrients, many types of multivitamins provide more than enough B12 and other minerals to sustain a happy, healthy life.