Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in keeping our bodies functioning properly, particularly when it comes to producing red blood cells. Yet many of us fall short of getting adequate amounts of this vital vitamin, which can cause a number of troubling symptoms.

Being deficient in vitamin B12 can manifest in several signs, including a little-known symptom that shows up in your feet. You'll typically find B12 in foods like eggs, beef, chicken, and cheese, with your digestive system doing the job of reabsorbing it. As well as producing red blood cells, vitamin B12 works alongside folate and helps the body release energy from the foods we eat.

One health expert has emphasised that running low on vitamin B12 can also cause problems with wound healing. There's a crucial protein called intrinsic factor (IF) that your stomach churns out, which latches onto vitamin B12 to stop it being lost during digestion.

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Without enough IF, which might be in short supply if your immune system mistakenly attacks your stomach cells, your body simply can't soak up vitamin B12 properly. Experts at the University of Nottingham have pointed out that "lack of vitamin B can affect wound healing in a number of ways", with particular implications for foot health. Should you experience pins and needles in your feet, it's worth booking an appointment with your GP.

Based on how severe the deficiency is, medics might prescribe high-strength vitamin B12 tablets, or potentially injections, to get levels back on track. It's absolutely vital to tackle any vitamin B12 deficiency, as leaving it unchecked could pave the way for severe neurological complications and blood-related disorders.

Harvard Medical School warns: "Vitamin B12 deficiency can be slow to develop, causing symptoms to appear gradually and intensify over time." The institution also highlighted that insufficient vitamin B12 "might also occur following weight-loss surgery too."

Excessive consumption of heartburn drugs may result in decreased stomach acid levels, which plays a vital role in vitamin B12 absorption, possibly causing a shortage. Vitamin B12 supplements can be obtained through online retailers, high street chemists, or via a GP prescription.