There are more than 100 types and forms of arthritis that affect approximately 46 million Americans, according to the Arthritis Foundation. The list includes forms of tendinitis, dysplasia, bursitis and more common forms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The medical term arthritis refers to an inflammation in the articular surface, or the surface where two bones meet. Inflammation, irritation, disease and degeneration with arthritis can be caused by a number of factors, from injury and illness to medications and nutritional deficits. A deficit in vitamin B-12 has a secondary link to rheumatoid arthritis.
Vitamin B-12
Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble vitamin that can be found in some foods and supplements. According to the Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health, it is required for red blood cell formation, neurological function and the synthesis of DNA. Vitamin B-12 that is found in foods is bound to protein and released in the stomach by the acid and protease found there. B-12 found in fortified foods is already in the free form and does not require this separation step. Once in the free form, it combines with another factor and is absorbed in the intestinal tract.
B-12 Deficiencies
Deficiencies in vitamin B-12 have led to abnormal neurological and psychiatric conditions, low blood pressure, vision problems, dementia and mood disturbances, according to MayoClinic.com. The primary blood problems from a lack of vitamin B-12 are pernicious anemia and megaloblastic anemia. The first happens when there is not enough of the second factor to allow absorption of vitamin B-12 in the intestines and the second occurs when a lack of B-12 leads to poor formation of red blood cells that do not function appropriately.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
In early studies by the "Association of Clinical Pathologists" and also published in the "Annals of Rheumatoid Diseases," researchers discovered that individuals who suffered from rheumatoid arthritis also had a higher risk of experiencing pernicious anemia from a lack of vitamin B-12 in the body. Pernicious anemia can be caused by a form of autoimmune disorder, a condition when the body's system attacks the cells that make the intrinsic factor or the intrinsic factor itself. This reduces the amount of vitamin B-12 that can be absorbed from the intestinal tract, according to National Institutes of Health online medical encyclopedia Medline Plus. Risk factors for pernicious anemia include other autoimmune disorders, such as Grave's disease, hypoparathyroidism, type 1 diabetes or a family history of the disease.
Food Sources and Supplementation
Depending on the severity of the vitamin B-12 deficiency, your doctor may prescribe monthly injections of B-12, oral supplementation or nasal preparations to increase your blood levels for an effective treatment, according to Medline Plus. Food sources generally include meat products, such as poultry, beef, eggs, milk and milk products. While not found in plant foods, vitamin B-12 is readily available in fortified cereal products and nutritional yeast. Before adding supplementation to your regimen, consult with your doctor to ensure it will not interfere with other medications you are already taking or any underlying medical conditions.
References
- Arthritis Foundation: Types of Arthritis
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin B-12
- MayoClinic.com: Vitamin B-12
- Association of Clinical Pathologists; Association Between Pernicious Anaemia and Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Serological Study; Ghazi H.A.; 87th General Meeting
- "Annals of Rheumatoid Disease"; Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pernicious Anemia; Carter M.E., Ardeman S., Winocour V. et al.; 1968
- Medline Plus: Pernicious Anemia
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