If you consume a typical American diet, you probably get enough vitamin B12 to meet your needs. This essential nutrient is found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, common foods in most Western meals. Strict vegetarians may have a harder time meeting their needs, as plant sources do not provide vitamin B12. Deficiency of this vitamin can seriously affect your body's ability to create red blood cells and is associated with a condition called megaloblastic anemia.
Vitamin B12 and Erythropoiesis
Erythropoiesis is the process of forming new red blood cells. Vitamin B12 is crucial to this process. M.J. Koury of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine states in a 2004 "Annual Review of Nutrition" article that vitamin B12 is needed for immature red blood cells to proliferate while differentiating into their destined form of mature red blood cell. Deficiencies in vitamin B12 can cause immature red blood cells to die before maturing.
Megaloblastic Anemia
Megaloblastic anemia can occur when red blood cells do not mature properly. It can result from a deficiency of vitamin B12 or of folate. MedlinePlus explains that patients with megaloblastic anemia have fewer red blood cells and the red blood cells they do have tend to be abnormally large, hence the term "megaloblastic." Megaloblastic anemia can result from a dietary deficiency of vitamin B12 or from a failure to properly absorb the vitamin B12 you consume.
Symptoms
The inability to produce mature red blood cells leads to numerous symptoms, which can vary from person to person. The University of Maryland Medical Center states that weakness, fatigue, increased heart rate, decreased mobility and nausea are some symptoms seen in cases of megaloblastic anemia. A diagnostic procedure called the Schilling test can help evaluate your ability to absorb vitamin B12 if your physician suspects megaloblastic anemia.
Causes
Alcoholism and underlying malabsorption syndromes can contribute to megaloblastic anemia by preventing your ability to metabolize dietary vitamin B12. Deficiency of this vitamin can be related to aging, pernicious anemia, celiac disease, Crohn's disease and complications from gastrointestinal surgery, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Treatment
Vitamin B12 injections are sometimes used to address deficiencies that cause megaloblastic anemia. In cases of pernicious anemia, where vitamin B12 absorption is decreased due to a lack of an essential digestive enzyme, lifelong treatment with vitamin B12 injections may be necessary. If you suspect you have a vitamin B12 deficiency, consult your doctor before embarking on any treatment plan.
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