Vitamin B12 deficiency produces symptoms—fatigue, cognitive decline, and weakness—that are routinely attributed to normal ageing, yet the condition remains significantly underdiagnosed in clinical practice. Recent research highlights the critical role B12 plays in maintaining mitochondrial function, the cellular mechanisms responsible for energy production. This discovery explains why patients may experience debilitating symptoms long before conventional serum B12 markers indicate deficiency.
The key to early intervention lies in metabolic screening using methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels, which detect cellular B12 insufficiency before irreversible neurological damage occurs. Experts emphasize that early diagnosis and supplementation can reverse symptoms in their initial stages, while delayed recognition risks progression to permanent neurological complications. Clinicians are urged to maintain a higher index of suspicion, particularly in vulnerable populations including older adults, vegans, and patients on metformin or proton pump inhibitors.
Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
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