B-12 ANEMIA

B12 deficiency – possible causes

There are quite a few causes of b12 deficiency anemia.  The most common causes of Vitamin B12 deficiency have to do with stomach & digestive related problems.  Some of the more common and well known causes of Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia:

• Stomach surgery – if you have had any surgery to remove all or part of your stomach, or surgery to remove your ileum (the end part of your small intestine) you are much more likely to develop B12 deficiency.  This also includes gastric bypass and other weight loss surgeries.  Having any of these procedures doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the deficiency, but you run a much higher risk and should check your B12 levels often.  Sometimes doctors will automatically put their patients who have had these surgeries on B12 to avoid any potential problems.
• If you have digestive problems or disorders.  This includes but is not limited to celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue or sprue, Crohn’s disease, parasites, or a bacteria infection in the small intestine.
• If you have heartburn or ulcers and have taken medication for a long period of time.

B12 deficiency anemia can also occur if you don’t eat enough of foods  that contain B12 or are a vegetarian.  This is rare, but if you don’t eat a variety of foods containing B12 you should take daily vitamins that contain enough B12 so you don’t become deficient.

If you are diagnosed with vitamin B12 deficiency anemia you may know right away what caused it.  You may require some testing to figure out what caused it, it may be a bit annoying but if it’s a problem that can be fixed you’ll want to know what it is.  Also be prepared that you may never know exactly the cause, and can only guess.  Whatever the cause the sooner you get treatment the better.