Understanding vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia
Methylmalonic acid is another important component in diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency anemia. Just because you have a blood test where your vitamin B12 levels are low, doesn’t necessarily mean that you have B12 anemia. Your doctor will determine the amount of methylmalonic acid in your blood by ordering (yet another – get used to it) [...]
There are many different symptoms to vitamin B-12 deficiency and frankly not enough information about them. The symptoms usually start mild as the deficiency is mild, you usually don’t even notice symptoms in the beginning. As you become more deficient your symptoms will multiply and intensify.
Intrinsic Factor is another name you hear all the time in conjunction with vitamin B12 deficiency anemia and pernicious anemia. It is a glycoprotein that is produced by cells in your stomach. The intrinsic factor is vital in B12 distribution through your body.
When the intrinsic factor is not being produced your intestinal bacteria eat up the bulk of the vitamin B12 that is ingested. The rest is simply excreted. So if you aren’t producing the intrinsic factor it doesn’t matter if you are getting enough vitamin B12. The B12 needs to get to the right place in [...]
If you are diagnosed with B12 deficiency there are many different forms of treatment, and they are all correct as long as you are continuously monitored to make sure your levels are where they should be. At the point I am at now I have my B12 levels checked about every 3 months. That isn’t [...]