Vitamin B12 and vitamin D are essential nutrients that are found mainly in animal products and fortified foods. Your body uses vitamin B12 for creating DNA and red blood cells, as well as for brain function. Vitamin D is involved in cell growth, helps your body absorb calcium, strengthens your bones, improves immune function and reduces inflammation. Although a variety of reasons can lead to a deficiency in either one of these nutrients, a few underlying causes can cause deficiencies in both.
Inadequate Intake
One of the main reasons for vitamin deficiencies is inadequate intake. People who do not consume any animal products need to take special care to get these nutrients, since the natural sources of both of these vitamins are all animal products. However, breakfast cereals and certain other foods are often fortified with these nutrients, and vegetarians can also take supplements if needed to meet their requirements.
Malabsorption
Another reason for vitamin deficiencies is malabsorption. Certain conditions, including gastric bypass surgery, inflammatory bowel disease and Crohn's disease, can interfere with the absorption of vitamins, causing deficiencies if sufficient amounts of these vitamins aren't consumed through foods or supplements to overcome the malabsorption difficulties. Elderly people also sometimes have difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from food sources and difficulty synthesizing vitamin D from sunlight.
Other Causes
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also be caused due to a lack of a substance called intrinsic factor, which is necessary for converting vitamin B12 from the form in food to that which the body uses. Vitamin D deficiency is more likely if you don't spend much time in the sun without sunscreen, since the body can make some vitamin D from sunshine, at least during part of the year.
Populations Most at Risk
People who don't make enough intrinsic factor, the elderly, vegans and people who have had gastrointestinal surgery or who have gastrointestinal disorders are most at risk for vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin D deficiency is most likely in infants who are breastfed and not given vitamin D supplements, the elderly, people with limited sun exposure, people with dark skin and people who have had gastrointestinal surgery or who have gastrointestinal disorders.
Member Comments