Anemia
Anemia is a condition in which the blood lacks healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. This imbalance causes the blood to be unable to transfer sufficient amounts of oxygen to the cells of the body, causing fatigue, which is one of the clearest and most important symptoms of anemia .
There are many types of anemia, which differ from each other in the causes and treatment method. The most common types of anemia are anemia due to iron deficiency , And common types of anemia are vitamin B12 deficiency, which is called malignant anemia, due to the associated damage and damage to the nerves .
The daily needs of vitamin B12
In the following table, the daily needs of vitamin B12 will be addressed to people by age group :
| Age group | Daily needs (μg / day) |
|---|---|
| Infants 0-6 months | 0.4 |
| Infants 7-12 months | 0.5 |
| Children 1-3 years | 0.9 |
| Children 4-8 years | 1.2 |
| 9-13 years | 1.8 |
| 18 years and over | 2.4 |
| Pregnant | 2.6 |
| Lactation | 2.8 |
Vitamin B12 absorption
The majority of vitamin B12 is found in protein-related foods. In order to be absorbed, it must first be released from these proteins by digestion. After it is released, vitamin B12 binds to R proteins in the stomach. These proteins carry them to the small intestine that is digested and released from the vitamin. Vitamin B12 is followed by a special binding protein produced by the stomach cells called the internal factor. This compound, which is composed of the internal factor and vitamin B12, is attached to special receptors located on the cells of the thrombocytopenic section of the small intestine. Internal factor .
It should be noted here that the receptors found on the cells of the segment of the small intestine of the small intestine do not recognize the vitamin B12 without being linked to the internal factor .
Causes of anemia with vitamin B12 deficiency
In general, vitamin B12 deficiency is most likely to be poorly absorbed and not very low in food intake. In cases of poor vitamin B12 absorption, its deficiency occurs even if the intake is high. It is poorly absorbed in two cases:
- The first case is caused by a lack of hydrochloric acid secretion in the stomach. This inhibits the digestion of proteins that bind to the food in the food, which inhibits its release and its association with R proteins and the internal factor as mentioned above, .
- The second condition is due to the lack of internal factor, and this is due to damage to the cells of the stomach that produces, as happens in the cases of gastritis, which affects many people, especially after the age of fifty, and cases of stomach infection with Helecobacter pylori that causes ulcers, To iron deficiency cases , And there are some people who can not produce the internal factor for genetic reasons hereditary, and there are some people whose immune system to fight the internal factor self, and in all cases should be taken vitamin B12 in the form of injections or sprays in the nose to be absorbed from the intestines .
Some of the causes of vitamin deficiency are also the infection of certain small bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that affects all the histological layers of the digestive system, digestive disorders, growth of bacteria or parasites, and celiac disease .
Causes of vitamin deficiency include surgery where a portion of the stomach or small intestine is removed, such as weight loss, alcohol consumption in large quantities, chronic use of drugs that reduce stomach acidity, and certain immune system disorders, such as peptic ulcer Known as Graves’ disease, lupus, .
In addition to the above reasons, vitamin B-12 intake is not adequate, as is the case in vegetarians who do not eat eggs and milk permanently, or vegetarians who do not eat enough eggs and milk, and the chance of vitamin B12 deficiency increases with progress In age .
Treatment of vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
Anemia is treated with vitamin B-12 deficiency, depending on the cause of the infection. If the problem is the absorption, the treatment is given by injecting the persistent vitamin B12 or nasal sprays for life. If the cause of the condition is the lack of vitamin B12 Even in people who do not eat meat and animal products, you should eat cereal products, eat high-dose supplements or get vitamin B-12 injections. Older people should take vitamin B-12 supplements or pills Multivitamin containing Y Mia .