Exhausted after 8 hours of sleep? You might be lacking this essential vitamin
Vitamin B12 is something your body depends on, but a lot of women don’t realise they’re running low on it until the symptoms start manifesting in the body.
July 23, 2026 / 11:50 IST
If you’re still exhausted after a full night’s sleep, low vitamin B12 could be one reason. (Picture: Pexels)
- Vitamin B12 deficiency causes tiredness, tingling.
- B12 vital for red blood cells, nerves, DNA production.
- Vegan diet, age, meds can cause B12 deficiency.
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Always feeling tired? It’s easy to blame work, bad sleep or stress. But sometimes there’s another reason that isn’t so obvious. Vitamin B12 deficiency usually builds up slowly. The signs can seem minor at first, which is why many people brush them off until they become hard to ignore
Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that vitamin B12 is needed to make red blood cells, keep nerves working properly and support DNA production. Women who eat little or no animal-based food, have digestive conditions or are older are more likely to become deficient
However, vitamin B12 deficiency can usually be treated, and in many cases prevented, if it’s picked up early. Knowing what to look for makes it easier to get checked before more serious problems develop
Constant tiredness
If you’re still exhausted after a full night’s sleep, low vitamin B12 could be one reason
Tingling in the hands and feet
Pins and needles, numbness or tingling in your hands, feet or legs can happen because vitamin B12 is important for healthy nerves
Poor memory and difficulty concentrating
Some women notice more brain fog than usual. Others become forgetful or find it harder to stay focused on everyday tasks
Pale or yellowish skin
A lack of vitamin B12 can affect red blood cell production, leaving your skin looking paler than usual or slightly yellow
Frequent dizziness
Feeling light-headed, especially when you stand up, may be linked to anaemia caused by low vitamin B12
Mood changes
Low vitamin B12 has been linked with low mood, irritability and sometimes symptoms of depression. These feelings can have many causes, but B12 deficiency is one possibility worth checking
A sore, smooth tongue
A tongue that looks swollen, red or unusually smooth is another sign that’s easy to miss but can happen with vitamin B12 deficiency
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Shortness of breath
If simple things like walking upstairs suddenly leave you more breathlessthan usual, low vitamin B12 could be contributing because of its effect on red blood cells
Here are some common causes of vitamin B12 deficiency
- Following a strict vegan diet without fortified foods or supplements.
- Digestive conditions such as coeliac disease or Crohn’s disease that reduce nutrient absorption.
- Certain medicines, including long-term use of metformin or acid-reducing drugs.
- Getting older, as the body naturally becomes less efficient at absorbing vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 isn’t as popular as nutrients like calcium or vitamin D, but it’s just as important. Spotting the signs early, eating enough vitamin B12 foods like salmon, sardines, Tina, eggs, milk, yoghurt, cheese, fortified breakfast cereals etc, and getting medical advice when symptoms appear can help prevent bigger problems later on
Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis
first published: Jul 23, 2026 11:50 am
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