The signs of a vitamin B12 deficiency in your poo – how often do you use the toilet?

Vitamin B12 is a crucial ingredient for the healthy running of the body, as it’s needed to make red blood cells. Signs of a deficiency can develop very slowly, so it may be difficult to diagnose the condition.

People with undiagnosed symptoms should consider that they may have a vitamin B12 deficiency.

While it’s unlikely that your symptoms are caused by the condition, there are still many people that have a lack of B12.

A quick blood test could reveal whether you should be adding more B12 to your diet.

You should consider speaking to a doctor about a B12 deficiency if you start passing fewer stools than normal.

One of the key warning signs of the deficiency is constipation, according to medical website Ada.

You may be feeling constipated if you start making fewer toilet trips.

Your stools may also feel harder and smaller, and you’re also more likely to tense while using the toilet.

You should consider speaking to a doctor if you’re persistently feeling constipated for no obvious reason.

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“A person with vitamin B12 deficiency may notice general symptoms of anaemia as well as symptoms that are more specific to the condition,” it said.

“Symptoms more specific to a vitamin B12 deficiency include: Pale yellow skin colour, painful red tongue, mouth ulcers, [and] constipation.

“Some symptoms may be experienced by people who have a vitamin B12 deficiency without anaemia.

“Some people may experience no symptoms, despite low levels of vitamin B12.”

But just because you’re feeling constipated, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Constipation is very common, and it has a number of different causes.

Not drinking enough fluids, not eating enough fibre, and not doing enough exercise could all be causing your constipation.

You may be constipated if you haven’t had a poo at least three times during the last week.

Meanwhile, other B12 deficiency symptoms may include difficulty walking, vision disturbances, and mouth ulcers.

You should speak to a doctor if you’re worried about vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms.

But you can top up on the vitamin by eating certain foods.

The best sources of vitamin B12 include beef, liver, dairy foods, eggs, and salmon.

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