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Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
 
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Insufficiency of vitamin B 12 in the body, like folic acid, causes megaloblastic anemia. With true pernicious anemia, the absorption of vitamin B 12 is caused by the presence of antibodies to the internal factor. In contrast to the deficiency of folic acid, with deficiency of vitamin B 12 degeneration of the spinal cord is possible. Although manifestations of megaloblastic anemia with deficiency of vitamin B 12 can be eliminated by folic acid, this drug should never be given with pernicious anemia, because it not only does not improve the condition of patients with neurological disorders, but it may even worsen. Determination of the concentration of vitamin B 12 is used in the diagnosis makrotsitarnyh and megaloblastic anemia. It should be borne in mind that the deficiency of vitamin B 12 develops slowly, for many years (after gastroectomy - up to 12 years).

Diseases and conditions in which the concentration of vitamin B 12 in the blood serum can change

Increase in the concentration of vitamin B 12Reducing the concentration of vitamin B 12

Acute hepatitis

The hepatic coma

Chronic liver disease (cirrhosis of the liver)

Acute and chronic myelogenous leukemia

Erythromyelosis

Monocytic leukemia

Lymphatic leukemia

Metastasis of cancer in the liver

Megaloblastic anemia

Addison-Birmer disease

Condition after resection of the gastrointestinal tract

Chronic inflammatory diseases and anatomical malformations of the small intestine

Cluster invasion

Alcoholism

Almentary deficiency B 12

Irradiation of the small intestine

Atrophic gastritis

Disturbance of absorption

Vitamin deficiency in food (vegetarians)

Pregnancy

The use of cytostatics, aminosalicylic acid, aminoglycosides, ascorbic acid, phenytoin, phenobarbital

trusted-source[1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7]

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