Posts Tagged ‘Tingling In The Hands’

Pernicious Anemia – A Condition Caused by a Lack of Vitamin B12

Comments: 0January 9th, 2010 by admin



Pernicious anemia is an anemic condition which occurs or happens when an individual’s body or the sufferer is not able to absorb enough of the B12 vitamin from their gastrointestinal tract. The human body requires the B12 to produce red blood cells as well as to maintain the nervous system.

When the vitamin B12 in the body becomes insufficient, the bone marrow is unable to produce red blood cells which divide normally. These cells are then too large and many can not pass through the bone marrow to the body and this creates a shortage of these cells which are needed to carry oxygen throughout the body.

The Symptoms of Vitamin B12 Deficiency as well as Pernicious Anemia

In many cases of pernicious anemia, the condition itself is not diagnosed until after signs of a neurological problem appear. There are many symptoms associated with this type of anemia including those which are typical of all types of anemia and include tiredness and fatigue. Other symptoms include bleeding gums, sore mouth, tongue problems, impaired sense of smell, loss of appetite, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, and a pale skin color.

Other symptoms which may occur and are due to the lack of vitamin B12 can include numbness or tingling in the hands as well as feet, loss of balance, and muscle weakness. In severe cases of a vitamin B12 deficiency it is possible for an individual to experience memory loss, dementia, confusion, and depression.

The Most Common Treatments for Pernicious Anemia

Pernicious anemia was actually given its name due to the fact that “pernicious” is defined as “deadly”. The reason for this was because at one time vitamin B12 treatments were not available; however, at these days pernicious anemia is treated fairly easy by building up the vitamin B12 in the body.

This can be done easily through vitamin B12 shots which are given in the more severe cases of pernicious anemia as well as may be on a daily or weekly basis until the B12 reaches sufficient levels in the body. In less severe cases vitamin B12 pills are usually taken in very large doses. Vitamin B12 is also made available in a nose spray as well as gel which is sometimes beneficial for individuals who have problems with swallowing pills. Prescription medications may also be given to treat this kind of condition which is causing the body’s inability to absorb the B12.

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Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Comments: 0October 23rd, 2009 by admin



In comparison to other water-soluble vitamins, vitamin B12 is not excreted in urine, but is stored in the liver, kidney and other body tissues. Hence, it might be five to six years before a person actually develops a deficiency syndrome for vitamin B12. The general notion is that body stores do no exhaust before several years.

The common symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiencies are excessive tiredness, breathlessness, listlessness, pallor and poor resistance to infection. Deficiency also can lead to neurological changes such as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. Other symptoms may include a reduced sensitivity to pain or pressure, blurred vision, abnormal gait, sore tongue, menstrual disorders and poor concentration levels.

Rather than a dietary deficiency, a deficiency of vitamin B12 is generally associated with a malabsorption of it. In such a case, the stomach cannot produce enough of a substance called intrinsic factor (IF), which is a prerequisite for vitamin B12 absorption. Such a condition, termed pernicious anemia, is an autoimmune dysfunction, wherein the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. Vegetarians maybe at a risk for facing deficiencies caused by dietary reasons, since the only confirmed source for vitamin B12 intake is the animal source.

Vitamin B12 is essential for the formation of red blood cells, and a short supply of it causes anemia. A deficiency in Vitamin B12 also results in the disruption of DNA production, and as a result, abnormal cells called megaloblasts occur, leading to megaloblastic anemia.

Vitamin B12 deficiency is also linked with several neurological and psychological disorders. A lack of cobalamin results in cognitive decline, nerve degeneration and irreversible neurological damage particularly for adults above fifty. Breast-fed infants of women who follow strict vegetarian diets have very limited reserves of this vitamin, and if undetected, vitamin B12 deficiency in infants can result in permanent neurological damage. Depression, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are also caused due to a shortage of vitamin B12.

Other effects of deficiency might be asthma, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, tinnitus, diabetic neuropathy and low sperm counts. Ataxia (shaky movements and unsteady gait), muscle weakness, spasticity, incontinence, hypotension, vision problems, psychoses, and mood disturbances are the other disorders that have recently been linked to possible vitamin B12 deficiencies. Women with breast cancer tend to have lower vitamin B12 levels in their blood serum.

The causes for vitamin B12 deficiency could be liver damage caused by excess alcohol intake, gastrectomy (i.e. the surgical removal of part or all of the stomach or removal of the ileum, a section of the intestine) and a poor functioning of the pancreas. Infection with Helicobacter pylori, a common cause of atrophic gastritis and ulcers, can also contribute to adult vitamin B12 deficiency.

Vitamins comprise only a tiny portion of the food one eats, but a lack of these essential micronutrients in one’s diet could result in serious deficiency, which if not cured could endanger one’s life.

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