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B12 deficiency and anxiety?

I've recently been prescribed anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medication, but I'm wondering if there's more I can do. I've been reading about vitamin deficiencies and most of my anxiety symptoms are the same symptoms as a b12 deficiency. From what I understand, most people are not deficient because our bodies need such a small amount of b12, but I'm a vegetarian. I eat dairy and eggs, but dairy only about once a week and eggs about once a month. Would this be enough b12, or is there a chance I'm deficient?

I have a doctor's appointment in 2 weeks, so I'll be asking her then, but I just wanted to ask around here first.

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Scientists have discovered that going veggie could be bad for your brain. With your diet you are six times more likely to suffer brain shrinkage.

    Vegans and vegetarians are the most likely to be deficient because the best sources of the vitamin are meat, particularly liver, milk and fish. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause anemia and inflammation of the nervous system. Yeast extracts are one of the few vegetarian foods which provide good levels of the vitamin.

    The link was discovered by Oxford University scientists who used memory tests, physical checks and brain scans to examine 107 people between the ages of 61 and 87.

    When the volunteers were retested five years later the medics found those with the lowest levels of vitamin B12 were also the most likely to have brain shrinkage. It confirms earlier research showing a link between brain atrophy and low levels of B12.

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