Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia
As most cases of vitamin B12 deficiency or folate deficiency can be easily and effectively treated, complications are rare.
However, complications can occasionally develop, particularly if you've been deficientin either vitaminfor some time.
All types of anaemia, regardless of the cause, can lead to heart and lung complications as the heart struggles to pump oxygen to the vital organs.
Adults with severe anaemia are at risk of developing:
A lack of vitamin B12 (with or without anaemia) can cause the following complications:
A lack of vitamin B12 can cause neurological problems (issues affecting your nervous system), such as:
If neurological problems do develop, they may be irreversible.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can sometimeslead to temporary infertility (an inability to conceive). Thisusually improves with appropriate vitamin B12 treatment.
If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency caused by pernicious anaemia (a condition where your immune system attacks healthy cells in your stomach), your risk of developing stomach cancer is increased.
If you're pregnant, not having enough vitamin B12 can increase the risk of your baby developing a serious birth defect known as aneural tube defect. The neural tube is a narrow channel that eventuallyforms the brain and spinal cord.
Examples of neural tube defects include:
A lack of folate (with or without anaemia) can also cause complications, some of which are outlined below.
As with a lack of vitamin B12, a folate deficiency can also affect your fertility. However,this is only temporary and can usually be reversedwith folate supplements.
Research has showna lack of folate in your body may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) .
CVD is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels, such as coronary heart disease (CHD) .
Research has shown that folate deficiency can increase your risk of some cancers, such as colon cancer .
Alack of folate during pregnancy may increase the risk of the baby being born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy) or having a low birthweight.
The risk ofplacental abruption may also be increased. Thisis a serious condition where the placenta starts to come away from the inside of the womb wall, causing tummy (abdominal) pain and bleeding from the vagina.
As with a vitamin B12 deficiency, a lack of folate can also affect an unborn baby's growth and development in the womb (uterus). This increases the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida developing in the unborn baby.
Anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency (or folate deficiency anemia) is caused by the production of unusually large, structurally abnormal, immature red blood cells. As a result of this enlargement, the body begins to produce a smaller number of red blood cells. In this way, the red blood cells cannot effectively perform all of their usual functions. This condition is also termed megaloblastic anemia. Patients feel extremely tired, seem to have lost most of their energy, exhibit a sore, reddened tongue, muscular weakness, ulcers in the mucosa of the mouth, visual disruptions, mental issues, etc.
Megaloblastic anemia exhibits severe symptoms, especially when it becomes severe. Symptoms include: feeling extreme fatigue, lethargy, headaches, difficulties in breathing, tachycardia (palpitations), loss of appetite, yellowing skin. WIth the progression of the disease, the symptoms become increasingly aggravated and increase in number. These aggravated symptoms include: a reddening of the tongue, the tongue becomes covered in plaques, a change in the manner of walking, numbness of the muscles, ulcers in the mouth, visual problems, overall mood disorders (aggravation and depression), the manner in which the patient thinks and their memory becomes compromised, etc.
The lack of vitamin B12 in the body may cause megaloblastic anemia. This type of anemia may occur due to: 1. PERNICIOUS ANEMIA: Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune condition. In this case the immune system becomes compromised, and instead of defending the body from foreign pathogens and other infections, it attacks healthy cells in the body. Pernicious anemia is a condition which involves a defect in the stomach. In the stomach, vitamin B12 is combined to a protein called intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor protein is crucial for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestine (jejunum); without it vitamin B12 cannot be absorbed. Pernicious anemia occurs when the immune system begins to attack the healthy stomach cells which produce intrinsic factor, hence the absorption of vitamin B12 is rendered impossible. 2.DIET: Many individuals suffer from megaloblastic anemia as a result of consuming foods with insufficient amounts of vitamin B12. 3.STOMACH SURGERY: When the part of the stomach that produces intrinsic factor protein is surgically removed, the absorption of vitamin B12 is impaired. 4. MEDICATION: Using proton pump inhibitors (H2 antagonists). 5. Functional deficit of vitamin B12.
In order to diagnose anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency, several blood tests are necessary: 1. Assessing the levels of haemoglobin in the blood. 2. Assessing the levels of erythrocytes in the blood as well as their shape. 3. Levels of B12 in the blood. 4. Assessing the levels of folates in the blood. The creation of a haemogram which includes the entire leukocyte formula, which aids a haematologist in the determination of the diagnosis. There are several indicators present in a haemogram which aid physicians in determining a diagnosis. Patients suffering from anemia usually exhibit low haemoglobin, lowered levels of erythrocytes and enlarged erythrocytes, erythrocytic volume of above 120. Leukocytes are usually lowered. Patients are referred to haematologists if the problem if haematological. If the anemia is caused by a lack of absorption in the digestive tract, a gastroenterologist. If the anemia is caused by a lack of vitamin B12 in the diet, a nutritional specialist, etc.
In order to treat megaloblastic anemia, the causes of the of the vitamin B12 deficiency must be known. The treatment is via injection or tablets to correct the deficiency. Vitamin B12 cyancobalamin or hydroxybalamin is often administered via an intramuscular injection, dosage from 100 up to 1000 gamma. Hydroxybalamin is preferred more so than cyancobalamin, because it lasts longer in the organism. is This type of therapy is used every day, or one ampoule per day depending on the condition of the patient. Patients are recommended to adjust their diet in order to consume foods that are rich in vitamin B12, such as foods rich in protein, like red meat, salmon, milk, cheese, yoghurt, butter, eggs etc. If it is the pernicious anemia causing the condition, the physician will recommend a detailed course of treatment. In this case, medication should be used for the remainder of the patient's life, in monitored doses. If the condition is caused by medication which lower the absorption of vitamin B12, the responsible medication is interrupted or substituted. If the condition is caused by a folate deficiency, folic acid in 5 mg tablets is used, 2 to 3 times a day. Green vegetables and foods high in folate content are recommended, such as peas, broccoli, chickpeas, brussel sprouts, asparagus, rice, coffee, etc. Many individuals need to take folic acid for several months. After taking the medicine for 10 to 15 days, blood tests are taken in order to monitor the levels of haemoglobin, the number of red blood cells or a complete haemogram in order to continue medication.
If megaloblastic anemia is medicated well and on time, complications are rare. If the anemia remains unmedicated, or badly medicated, the anemia may become prolonged and the following complications may occur: 1. HEART RHYTHM DISRUPTIONS (TACHYCARDIA) OR DISRUPTIONS OF BLOOD PRESSURE. 2. NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS: Lowered memory capabilities, visual disruptions, bad coordination in speech and movement, muscular cramps, peripheral neuropathy, etc. 3. INFERTILITY 4. STOMACH CANCER When the anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency is caused by pernicious anemia, there is a risk of developing stomach cancer. 5. GIVING BIRTH TO BABIES WITH CONGENITAL DEFECTS 6. COLON CANCER 7. CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE 8. PREMATURE BIRTH, ETC.