4 Ways to Treat Vitamin Deficiency Anemia

1. Assess Your Specific Vitamin Deficiency

Anemia occurs when you have too few healthy red blood cells. This can be caused by a deficiency of certain vitamins in your diet. Your body needs an adequate supply of iron, folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin C to make healthy red blood cells to deliver oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your system. Having too little iron in your blood is known as iron deficiency anemia and has its own treatments, but a lack of any of the other nutrients is known as vitamin deficiency anemia, or megaloblastic anemia. Your doctor can perform tests to determine exactly which vitamins you are missing.

2. Increase Your Folic Acid Intake

Both vitamin B12 and folates are the foundational elements of red blood cells. If you have a deficiency of either in your blood, the red blood cells will be too big and inefficient at carrying oxygen. If you have a folate deficiency, your physician will recommend a change in your diet to include more folic acid with foods like dark, leafy vegetables and citrus fruits. You will also be prescribed daily folic acid supplements. Depending on the severity of your anemia, you may see improvement after as little as 1 week or have to wait as long as 2 months.

3. Beef Up on Vitamin B12

If your blood lacks sufficient vitamin B12, you can add more naturally to your diet by eating foods like meat, cheese, milk and eggs. You will also need vitamin B12 supplement pills as prescribed by your doctor. In some cases, the body is unable to absorb vitamin B12. When this occurs, vitamin B12 is given as a nasal spray or by injection.

4. Get Your Daily Dose of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is important in the blood to help red blood cells absorb the needed iron. Vitamin C deficiency anemia is very rare, but it can be treated with supplement pills. It may also help to drink more orange juice and eat more citrus fruits.