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Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of the peripheral blood flow is reduced. It should be noted that anemia per se is not a disease itself but a sign and an expression of underlying diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for women is <12 gm/dL and in men is < 13 gm/dL.
Types of anemia causing Vitamin B12 Deficiency
There are various types of anemia such as macrocytic normochromic anemia, normocytic normochromic anemia, and microcytic hypochromic anemia. Vitamin B12 and folate deficiency is associated with macrocytic normochromic anemia. Its deficiency causes megaloblastic anemia in which the red blood cells are usually larger than the normal size. Moreover, their maturation is also abnormal.
Pernicious Anemia
It is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms are more common among people of Northern Europe. The association of high plasma concentrations of vitamin B12 has notified that the cause is common among those patients that have impaired renal function. (Flores-Guerrero, 2020) It has been found that patients undergoing dialysis treatment are more likely to be deficient in vitamin B12 plasma concentrations.
Moreover, the synergistic effect of combined supplements of vitamin B6, folic acid, and vitamin B12 may impart more deleterious effects on renal function. There is more occurrence of vascular events in diabetic nephropathic patients. It has been reported that 35% of the elderly population has some extent of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Furthermore, the causes of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia may include the unavailability of the Intrinsic Factor leading to pernicious anemia. It is a protein in nature that is synthesized in the stomach and facilitates the absorption of vitamin B12. The other main cause of vitamin B12 deficiency is when some section of the small intestine is being removed by surgery or it may bypass the last part of the small intestine resulting in weak absorption of Vitamin B12.
