Understanding vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia
I just need to take a minute and discuss what the results of your B12 blood tests mean. Recently I have had 2 people from my personal life who have been diagnosed with B12 deficiency anemia and I am shocked at the difference between my treatment and theirs. They weren’t informed of the severity or [...]
Pernicious Anemia is one of many different types of anemia. Having anemia means that your body does not have enough red blood cells that are healthy. Because of this the blood can not distribute oxygen properly to the cells in your body.
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) [...]
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 [...]
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.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is much more common in the elderly (although lately many younger people are being diagnosed). The symptoms of B12 deficiency can mimic symptoms of other more sever, untreatable conditions like dementia, senility and Alzheimer’s. In these cases it is critical to get a correct diagnosis as Vitamin B12 deficiency is a treatable [...]
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 [...]