What causes B12 malabsorption?

B12 is needed for the formation of blood cells and promotes growth. It also increases energy and memory and is required for metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, and protein.

Natural sources include kelp, bananas, peanuts, Concord grapes, sunflower seeds, brewer's yeast, wheat germ, bee pollen, liver, beef, eggs, pork, milk, and cheese.

Deficiency symptoms are very slow to appear, taking as long as five years to manifest. They include changes in the nervous system, such as soreness and weakness in the legs and arms, diminished reflex response, loss of sensory perception, difficulty in walking (albeit slight), speech problems (stammering), and jerking of limbs. Also, nervousness, unpleasant body odor, menstrual disturbances, and neuritis are signs of deficiency.

B12 deficiency can cause a type of brain damage similar to schizophrenia. Symptoms include a sore mouth, numbness or stiffness, shooting pains, and a pins-and-needles sensation.

If deficiencies are not detected early, permanent mental deterioration may result. See your doctor if you notice any of these symptoms.

Another site adds:

* Depression
* Anxiety
* loss of appetite
* diarrhea (had a 4 week episode of this 1.5 years ago, no cause found or attempted to be found by the doc)
* numbness and tingling of hands and feet
* paleness
* shortness of breath
* fatigue
* weakness
* sore mouth and tongue
* confusion or change in mental status in severe or advanced cases (even noticed this today, abnormal even by my own standards)


I boldfaced my symptoms, or the ones I can recognize.

None of my regular physicians looked at vitamin problems. Neither did my counselors or psychiatrists.

If it were not for a 3rd party neurologist who went for a blood test instead of just saying it's stress of schizo-whatever, Lord knows if I'd ever have been put on the right track. The blood tests had proven 2 B12-related

And given nobody looks at diet or vitamin absorption and prefers to prescribe pills, do I have a case? Not a lawsuit to claim money as much as I want these bastards to take EVERYTHING into consideration before prescribing one fucking pill. It's not fair to me or any other patient who has to go through a living nightmare because they don't do a proper job. x(


Note: One counselor thought I had schizo-affective disorder. A different one said schizo-typal. My co-worker/friends who happen to be licensed counselors were SHOCKED to hear I'd ever been diagnosed with schizo-anything. And when a co-worker who helped me to the clinic one day witnessed the utter incompetence of my doctor, my case has real weight to it.

yep, tapeworms 'll do it.

so in theory, you shouldn't have an absorption problem...but you might not have gotten enough of it in your diet. Very unusual to see this deficiency in the American population

It is scarily common in older people and not always caught in time. If you or anyone close to you is ever diagnosed with Alzheimer's, be CERTAIN that this person is tested to eliminate pernicious anemia before you accept this diagnosis. It made all the difference for a man I know to discover that his mental confusion and deterioriation could be stopped by regular B12 injections.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

and it made a tremendous difference.

However, this disease causes malabsorption of other vitamins and minerals also, not just B12. Celiac is often suspected when there is unexplained anemia. However, if your levels of other vitamins and minerals are normal, I would doubt celiac as a possible explanation.

is the inability to absorb B12 from food, because the stomach ceases to produce a necessary enzyme (cleverly named "intrinsic factor").

It's genetic, and IIRC most commonly occurs in fair-skinned, blue-eyed people of Northern European heritage.

I've had it since 1981 (I'm a blue-eyed redhead of Irish, English & Scots heritage).

I used to get monthly B12 shots, but for the last several years I've got by on the sublingual herbal lozenges made by Nature's Plus--less than $10 for a month's supply (one daily) at the health food store.

http://www.animatedmedical.com/Pernanem/pernanem.html

http://www.umm.edu/blood/aneper.htm

http://www.healthcentral.com/mhc/top/000569.cfm

(edited to add links)

factor. My doc gave them to me once when I was anemic, and they built me back up in no time.

And I did not get the diarrhea or constipation side effects that often come with iron supplements

The man I cited in my other post also had vitiligo. No idea that the two conditions were linked.

You learn something new every day.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

In my case Irritable Bowel Syndrome and food allergies has led to Vitamin B12 malabsorption. So far I've had one B12 shot and I'll have to be re-checked to see how I'm doing.

After age 50 (fortunately for many people WELL after age 50 but at that age doctors start to be more aware of it) a good number of the population loses the ability to absorb B12 from food. If you are not properly diagnosed so you can receive regular injections, you will continue to develop more and more symptoms of dementia.

Of course, "after age 50" is a generalization and some people do lose the ability to digest B12 earlier, but since it is rare, I don't think you have a case for a lawsuit, since it is understandable that it is more difficult to diagnose a rare condition than a common one.

You are probably aware that the symptoms are easily confused with a great many other diseases, including psychiatric illnesses. I was certain my friend's dad had Alzheimer's before he was properly diagnosed and stabilized. I believe his doctors too first considered several other diagnoses. Unfortunately, pernicious anemia is a tricky disease that is the master of disguise and quite easily confused with other problems.

Maybe talk to an attorney who specializes in medical malpractice to be sure but I do not believe you have a case. Focus on getting treatment and never, ever miss your B12 injections would be my advice.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72