The most common cause of low B12 (from what I've read) is a vegan diet (complete elimination of all animal products).
Other causes could be Crohn's disease, digestive inflammation, alcoholism, liver disease, surgery of the stomach or small intestine, parasites, and a lack of intrinsic factor...which is protein in the stomach lining that helps the intestines utilise/absorb B12.....
Without B12, one can end up with pernicious anemia...which is different than iron deficiency.
Is your B12 very low?
quincy
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It's all a matter of perspective!
The most common cause of low B12 (from what I've read) is a vegan diet (complete elimination of all animal products).
Other causes could be Crohn's disease, digestive inflammation, alcoholism, liver disease, surgery of the stomach or small intestine, parasites, and a lack of intrinsic factor...which is protein in the stomach lining that helps the intestines utilise/absorb B12.....
Without B12, one can end up with pernicious anemia...which is different than iron deficiency.
Is your B12 very low?
quincy
Normal range is 211-911. Mine is 309. The main reason I went to the DR was because I had blurred vision in my right eye only, left eye clear and some tingling in my hands and feet. Had an MRI and it came back normal. I did some research of my own on this pernicious anemia, and I read where if left untreated long enough it can cause nerve cells to die which would lead to the tingling in the hands and feet. I'm not a vegan. So right now DR wants me to take a B-12 vitamin and see if that raises it. We'll see. Hope I don't have to have injections. Thanks for the reply. Take care.
