The anemia of vitamin a deficiency

Description

Vitamin deficiency anemia is a lack of red blood cells caused by lower than normal amounts of vitamin B-12 and folic acid.

This can happen if you don't eat enough foods that contain vitamin B-12 and folic acid, or if your body has trouble absorbing or processing these vitamins.

Without these nutrients, the body produces red blood cells that are too large and do not work correctly. This reduces their ability to carry oxygen.

Symptoms can include fatigue, difficulty breathing and dizziness. Supplements of vitamins, taken by the pill or an injection, you can correct the deficiencies.

Symptoms

Vitamin deficiency anemia usually develops slowly over a period of several months to years. Signs and symptoms may be subtle at first, but it tends to increase as the deficiency worsens. These may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Shortness of breath
  • Dizziness
  • Pale or yellowed skin
  • Irregular heart beats
  • Weight loss
  • Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
  • Muscle weakness
  • Changes in personality
  • Unstable movements
  • Mental confusion or forgetfulness

Causes

Vitamin deficiency anemia can occur if you do not eat enough foods that contain vitamin B-12 and folic acid, or if your body has trouble absorbing or processing these vitamins.

Vitamin B-12 deficiencies

Low levels of vitamin B-12 can be caused by:

  • Of the diet. Vitamin B-12 is found primarily in meat, eggs and milk, so that people do not consume this type of food may need to take B-12 supplements. Some foods that have been fortified with B-12, including some breakfast cereals and some nutritional yeast products.
  • Pernicious anemia. This condition occurs when the body's immune system attacks the cells in the stomach that produce a substance called intrinsic factor. Without this substance, B-12 cannot be absorbed in the intestines.
  • Gastric surgeries. If parts of your stomach or intestines have been surgically removed, which can reduce the amount of intrinsic factor produced and the amount of space available for the vitamin B-12 to be absorbed.
  • Intestinal problems. Crohn's disease and celiac disease can interfere with the absorption of vitamin B-12, as can be tapeworms that can be ingested from eating contaminated fish.

Folic acid

Also known as vitamin B-9, folic acid is a nutrient that is found mainly in dark green leafy vegetables and liver. A deficiency of folate can occur when people do not eat foods that contain folic acid, or that their bodies are unable to absorb folate from food.

Absorption problems can be caused by:

  • Intestinal diseases such as celiac disease
  • Surgical excision or omission of a large part of the intestines
  • The excessive consumption of alcohol
  • Prescription medications, such as some anti-seizure medicines

Pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding have an increased demand for folate, as do the people on dialysis for kidney disease.

A lack of folic acid can cause birth defects during pregnancy. However, folate deficiency is less common now in countries that routinely add folic acid to food products such as breads, cereals and pastas.

Risk factors

Things that can increase your risk of vitamin deficiency anemia include:

  • Certain autoimmune diseases, including Crohn's disease, celiac disease and type 1 diabetes.
  • Surgery to remove part of the stomach or the intestine.
  • Advanced age.
  • The chronic use of alcohol.

Complications

Deficiency of vitamin B-12 or folic acid increases the risk of many health problems, including:

  • Complications in pregnancy. A developing fetus that does not get enough folic acid by the mother may develop birth defects of the brain and the spinal cord.
  • Disorders of the nervous system. Without treatment, the vitamin B-12 deficiency can lead to neurological problems, such as the persistence of the feeling of tingling in the hands and feet, or problems with balance. This can lead to mental confusion and forgetfulness due to vitamin B-12 is required for the healthy function of the brain.
  • The gastric cancer. Pernicious anemia increases the risk of stomach or intestinal types of cancer.

Prevention

You can prevent some forms of vitamin deficiency anemia by choosing a healthy diet that includes a variety of foods.

Foods rich in vitamin B-12 include:

  • Beef, liver, chicken, and fish
  • Eggs
  • Fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals
  • Milk, cheese and yogurt

Foods rich in folate include:

  • Broccoli, spinach, asparagus, and fava beans
  • Oranges, lemons, bananas, strawberries and melons
  • Enriched grain products such as bread, cereals, pasta and rice
  • The liver, kidneys, yeast, mushrooms and peanuts

The majority of adults in need of these daily dietary amounts of the following vitamins:

  • Vitamin B-12 — 2.4 micrograms (mcg)
  • Folate or folic acid — 400 micrograms (mcg)

Pregnant and breastfeeding women may require more of each vitamin.

Most people get enough vitamins from the foods they eat. But if your diet is restricted, or you have had a gastric bypass surgery, you may wish to take a multivitamin.

The anemia of vitamin a deficiency

Diagnosis

To help diagnose vitamin deficiency anemia, you may have blood tests that check:

  • The number and the appearance of the red blood cells
  • The amount of vitamin B-12 and folic acid in the blood
  • The presence of antibodies against intrinsic factor, which indicates the pernicious anemia

Treatment

Anemia is the deficiency of the vitamin-treated with a dose of that vitamin is insufficient. For pernicious anemia, vitamin B-12 is normally delivered through the injection and may need to be taken regularly for the rest of your life.

Vitamin B-12 is available as:

  • Injections into the muscle or under the skin
  • Pills to be swallowed
  • A liquid or a tablet that dissolves under the tongue
  • Nose gel or sprays

Drugs to increase folate levels usually come in the form of pills to be swallowed, but some versions can be delivered through a narrow, flexible tube into a vein (intravenously).

Preparing for your appointment

If you suspect that you have a vitamin deficiency anemia, which is likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, in some cases, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in the treatment of blood disorders (hematologist).

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all the medicines , as well as any vitamins or supplements you are taking.
  • Write questions to ask their doctor.

Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions will help you to make the most of your time together. For vitamin a deficiency anemia, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is the most likely cause of my symptoms?
  • Could anything more be the cause of my symptoms?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or long-term?
  • What treatment do you recommend it?
  • Are there alternatives to the approach that you're suggesting?
  • I have another health condition. How can I best manage these conditions?
  • There are foods that I have to add to my diet?
  • Are there brochures or other material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment anytime you don't understand something.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask you a series of questions. Be ready to answer them may reserve time to go over points you want to spend more time. Your doctor may ask:

  • When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
  • How severe are the symptoms?
  • Nothing seems to improve the symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
  • Are you a vegetarian?
  • How many servings of fruits and vegetables are typically eat in a day?
  • Do you drink alcohol? If so, how often, and how many of the drinks that tend to have?
  • Are you a smoker?
Symptoms and treatment of anaemia due to Vitamin a deficiency