B12 Deficiency Causes

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency occur when your body runs out of B12 stores due to various factors. Vitamin B12 is vital to our health; it is required for red blood cells formation, DNA synthesis, metabolism and nervous system function. There are a lot of factors that can cause vitamin B12 deficiency.

Before this vitamin enter your circulation, it must first pass the stomach and combine with the intrinsic factor (a substance produced by the linings of the stomach called parietal cells) and then gets absorbed by the small intestines to your circulation. There is a condition called pernicious anemia that impairs the absorption of vitamin B12. This is an auto-immune disease, where your immune system, the responsible for killing microorganisms that enters your body is attacking the normal cells of the body, specifically the parietal cells.

This leads to reduced production of intrinsic factor, without this substance, the vitamin B12 will not get absorbed and this will lead to vitamin B12 deficiency. This will require them to take the vitamin via vitamin b12 injections. Other conditions involving the stomach that contributes to the deficiency are celiac disease, another autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestines causing malabsorption of vitamins and nutrients, Crohn’s disease, this disease can also lead to malabsorption due to damaged gastrointestinal tract which is believed to cause by an infection. Surgery involving the gastrointestinal tract can definitely cause deficiency too.

People who follow a strict diet regimen like the vegans are at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency because this vitamin is not commonly found in fruits and vegetable, it is generally found in meat and dairy products. These people are recommended to take supplements.

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When you get older, your stomach gets weaker and produces less intrinsic factor, increasing your chances of getting B12 deficiency. Some substances can cause B12 deficiency; excessive intake of alcohol impairs B12 absorption. Smoking can reduce the B12 levels in your blood. Various medications can interfere with the absorption of B12 such as antibiotics, antacids and antihistamines. That is why it is better to consult a physician before taking any drugs that can interfere with the absorption of the vitamin.