A Simple Guide to Vitamin B12 Anemia, Diagnosis, Treatment and Related Conditions

This book describes Vitamin B12 Anemia, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related DiseasesVitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin present in many foods. Vitamin B12 is found in meat, poultry, not present in vegetables and fruitsVitamin B12 is important for red blood cells production. It is also important for peripheral nerve functionVitamin B12 Deficiency is a silent diseaseSeverity of Vitamin B12 deficiency is inversely related to ageOne cause of Vitamin B12 deficiency is malabsorptionThe other cause is poor food intake functionIt is a cause of peripheral neuropathyThere is heart failure and cardiomyopathyThere may be megaloblastic and pernicious anemiaThere may be sub-acute combined degeneration of brain and dementiaPrevention of Vitamin B12 Deficiency is as important as treatment.
Treatment of Vitamin B12 Deficiency is taking vitamin B12 supplementsAnd a diet containing red meat, egg yolks, fortified milk and liver, There are no vegetable sources such as whole grain cereals and green vegetables-An original poem by Kenneth KeeVitamin B12 Anemia is a blood disorder produced by a deficiency of healthy red blood cells due to lesser than normal quantities of vitamin B12. Inadequate red blood cells means inadequate quantity of hemoglobin, the main 'oxygen' transport carriers of the body and the main indicator of anemia in the human body.
Vitamin B12 Anemia can be categorized as mild, moderate, and severe; with the mild type having the maximum amount of RBCs, and severe having the least amount of RBCs. Vitamin B12 Anemia happens:When there is Vitamin B12 deficiencies due to:Diet - starvation, lactating mothers should take more Vitamin B12Mal-absorption as in celiac syndrome, sprue or hepatitic cirrhosisIntestinal parasites such as diphyllobothrium latumPernicious anemia when the gastric mucosa cannot produce the intrinsic factor necessary for vitamin B12 absorptionAlcohol use and certain medicinesVitamin B12 anemia is a silent disease in the early stages.
Vitamin B12 Deficiency affects:Blood - anemia with giddiness, pallor and tirednessBrain -sub-acute combined degeneration of spinal cord and brain - loss of balance, numbness or tingling in the arms and legs and weaknessDiagnosis is by a full blood count tests of RBC, WBC, platelets and hemoglobin levels and low vitamin B12 blood levelThe aim of Vitamin B12 anemia treatment is the correction of anemia and the prevention of sub-acute combined degeneration of spinal cord and brain.
Medical TreatmentVitamin B12 is a vitamin present in foods such as meat, fish, and dairy products. Vitamin B12 is used for treating and preventing vitamin B12 anemia and to treat pernicious anemiaIt can be taken by mouth or a nasal spray or gel or as an injection where other means are not absorbed.1000 mcg of vitamin B12 is given intramuscularly once a month. TABLE OF CONTENTIntroductionChapter 1 Vitamin B12 AnemiaChapter 2 CausesChapter 3 SymptomsChapter 4 DiagnosisChapter 5 TreatmentChapter 6 PrognosisChapter 7 Pernicious AnemiaChapter 8 Megaloblastic AnemiaEpilogue