A 44-year-old member asked:
Who is at risk of vitamin b12 deficiency?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Bryan Leveyanswered
Pediatrics 29 years experience
Many: The classic B12 deficient people are severe alcoholics and vegan type vegetarians. Obviously, the reason for the deficiency is different in the two groups. Vegans simply don't eat enough B12 containing foods. Alcoholics are a bit more complicated than that.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Jeffrey Kass commented
Podiatry 30 years experience
Diabetics taking metformin should be monitored as well as this is a reported side effect of the medication.
Sep 29, 2012
Dr. William Shafferanswered
Neurology 19 years experience
Auto-immune: Dr. Level answered this as well. Besides dr. Levey's answers, B12 deficiency can also have auto-immune ties.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 36-year-old member asked:
How can I cure vitamin B12 deficiency?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Naheed Akhteranswered
Obstetrics and Gynecology 55 years experience
Yes: Yes . Their is treatment for it.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
What are the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency?
3 doctor answers • 7 doctors weighed in
Dr. Wanda Bedinghausanswered
Holistic Medicine 52 years experience
B12 for red cells: Many people are B12 deficient. It's an important nutrient in red blood cell and nerve development. Symptoms of deficiency include: weakness, fast heart beat, pale skin, easy bruising, tingling or numbness in fingers and toes, difficulty walking, depression, memory loss and dementia. A significant factor in causes of this deficiency is the use of acid-reducing drugs for gerd.
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5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
CA
A 24-year-old member asked:
What is the treatment for vitamin B12 deficiency?
2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
Dr. Edward Goldanswered
Internal Medicine 46 years experience
Replacement: Either B12 injections or high dose oral therapy.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Kathleen Cullen commented
Internal Medicine 11 years experience
and I might add that if after 3 months of oral B12 , your levels do not improve, you may have a condition called pernicious anemia in which your body is not absorbing B12 through the gut. I would recommend IM injections in this case. This will more than likely be lifeterm.
Jan 3, 2012
CA
A 40-year-old member asked:
What are the effects of vitamin B12 deficiency?
1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in
Dr. Bryan Leveyanswered
Pediatrics 29 years experience
Anemia is main: There are many symptoms of B12 deficiency. The most prominent is a type of anemia where your red blood cells are decreased in number, increased in size, and decreased in color. Since they are not normal, they do not carry oxygen like they're supposed to. As B12 deficiency worsens, the anemia gets worse and you get weaker and sicker. You also have trouble with thinking and brain function, etc..
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.2k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
What causes a vitamin B12 deficiency?
1 doctor answer • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. Evan Hirsch, MDanswered
Integrative Medicine 16 years experience
Multiple causese: There are several causes: low stomach acid, pernicious anemia, poor consumption of foods containing B12 and a genetic predisposition that requires more B12 like mthfr gene defect.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Jul 14, 2017
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