Vitamin B12 Deficiency Causes
Learn what the medical community has uncovered about what causes Vitamin B12 Deficiency inside the condition center at ThirdAge.com. When you're done continue your research by selecting the next category in the left navigation.
Learn
- Overview
- What It Is
- Causes
- Risk Factors
- Diagnosis
- Symptoms
- Prognosis
- Living With
- Complications
- User Questions
Take Action
- Screening
- Medications
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Alternative Treatment
- Care Guide
- Support Forums
- Questions for Your Doctor
- When to Contact a Doctor
- Find a Doctor
- Resource Guide
Causes of Vitamin B12 Deficiency
There are many causes of vitamin B12 deficiency. Some are listed below.
- Removal of part of the small intestine or stomach
- Advancing age
- Long-term use of certain acid-reducing stomach medications:
- H2 blockers
- Proton pump inhibitors
- Atrophic Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) due to:
- Iron-Deficiency Anemia
- Bacterial infection with
Helicobacter pylori - Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
- Autoimmunity
- Disorders affecting vitamin absorption:
- Crohn's Disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Celiac Disease
- Tropical sprue
- Whipple's Disease
- Tuberculosis
- Long-term Pancreatitis
- Pernicious Anemia (lack of intrinsic factor)
- HIV and AIDS
- Inadequate intake of vitamin B12
- Long-term veganism (nonconsumption of animal products) or vegetarianism
- Breastfed infants of vegan or vegetarian mothers
- Poor infant nutrition
- Inadequate nutrition for a pregnant woman
- Chronic alcohol abuse
- Stillness of the intestinal contents which can be caused by:
- Abnormal narrowness of intestines
- Pockets in intestines
- Connections between loops of the intestine
- Blind intestinal loops
- Intestinal blockage which can be caused by:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Scleroderma
- Amyloidosis
- Inflammation of the intestine due to radiation treatment
- Inability to use vitamin B12:
- Lack of a needed enzyme
- Cancer
- Malnutrition
- Nonfunctioning transport protein
- Increased need of vitamin B12:
- Hyperthyroidism
- Tapeworm affliction
- Other types of anemia
- Over-use of nitrous oxide:
- Frequent use
- Extended single use of nitrous oxide (more than six hours)
- Metabolic disorders:
- Methylmalonic aciduria
- Homocystinuria
Latest Articles
There are no articles are available for Vitamin B12 Deficiency.
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor
implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A
MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment
or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright ©2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights
reserved. Source: EBSCO
