Anaemia is a deficiency of red blood cells that can lead to a mild lack of oxygen-carrying ability causing unusual tiredness. Red blood cells are manufactured in the bone marrow and have a life expectancy of approximately four months. Anaemia occurs either through the reduced production of red blood cells or an increased loss of red blood cells.

Why does a vitamin B12 deficiency cause anaemia?
To produce red blood cells, the body needs, among other things, iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid (one of the B group of vitamins). If one or more of these ingredients is lacking, anaemia will develop.

Vitamin B12 is also essential for the nervous system, which is why a deficiency can also cause inflammation of the nerves (neuritis) and dementia (mental deterioration).

Vitamin B12 deficiency is frequently caused either by the inability of the small bowel to absorb vitamin B12, or by a lack of food containing vitamin B12.

It frequently occurs in elderly people although it may also be present in the young, particularly women.

The first symptoms will be unusual tiredness, difficulty in breathing and dizziness.

Further symptoms specific to vitamin B12 deficiency are:
a red, irritated and possibly shiny, tongue.
a reduced sense of taste.
altered or reduced sense of touch.
reduced sense of vibration (an inability to feel the vibrations of a tuning fork).
some people with vitamin B12 deficiency will experience symptoms in their nervous system first.
headache.
psychological symptoms.
pains in the legs (intermittent claudication), difficulties with walking and coordination will gradually occur together with muscle spasm paralysis.
a less sensitive sense of touch.
shortness of breath, palpitation and chest pains (angina).
with pernicious anaemia there is an increased danger of developing cancer of the stomach.

By eliminating the cause and taking the necessary vitamins by supplement or injection, there will be a complete recovery.

However, even if the pernicious anaemia is treated, there is a slightly increased risk of cancer of the stomach and if the treatment is started too late there is a risk of permanent damage to the nervous system.


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