Anemia has a number of causes including vitamin deficiency. Important B vitamins, including B-12 and folate, help to create red blood cells and protect nerves and arteries from damage. The National Institutes of Health defines megaloblastic anemia as a deficiency of vitamin B-12 resulting in too few red blood cells that are abnormally over-sized. Megaloblastic anemia is commonly known as pernicious anemia, and a lack of folate is referred to as folate deficiency anemia. Mild anemia can undermine health and vitality. Severe anemia can be fatal.
B-12 Deficiency Anemia
Vitamin B-12 makes red blood cells that deliver oxygen to tissue. B-12 is not manufactured by the body so it must be consumed via food or supplements. Vegetarians who eat no dairy and vegans who eat no animal products are at risk for vitamin B-12 deficiency because it is not available from vegetables. An inability to absorb or process B-12 may be due to Crohn's disease, celiac disease, the after-effects of intestinal surgery, missing dietary nutrients or a lack of intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor is a protein that attaches to B-12 in the stomach and delivers it to the small intestine to be absorbed. If B-12 doesn't bond with intrinsic factor, the vitamin is eliminated from the body. Lack of B-12 can lead to megaloblastic, or pernicious, anemia, a condition in which the body cannot make the red blood cells it needs. Effects of pernicious anemia can be severe and permanent if the deficiency goes untreated for too long.
Folate Deficiency Anemia
Folate is another B vitamin, known as B-9, that is important to early fetal development and to producing an amino acid that can prevent heart disease. Folate deficiency anemia has some of the same causes as B-12 deficiency anemia, according to the Mayo Clinic. But excessive consumption of alcohol and some anti-seizure medications can also interrupt absorption of folate. People who need extra folate to avoid anemia are pregnant and nursing women, as well as kidney dialysis patients.
Symptoms
Some of the early symptoms of B vitamin deficiency anemia are subtle but, left untreated, the condition will result in severe health risks. Fatigue and shortness of breath are common. Pale skin, loss of appetite, interference with healthy gastrointestinal activity, numbness and tingling in extremities, depression, problems with balance and dizziness are also symptoms. The National Institutes of Health says prolonged deficiency will cause dementia, and it may be irreversible. Dementia and loss of balance are heightened risks for seniors who tend to absorb B vitamins less readily as they age.
Diet and Supplements
B vitamins thiamin, riboflavin, niacin and folate are added to breads and flour, per FDA regulation, to ensure that the population-at-large has lower risks for birth defects and heart disease. Iowa State University Extension recommends getting folate from broccoli, spinach, oranges, wheat germ, beans, legumes, chicken liver and fortified cereals. The Mayo Clinic suggests eggs, dairy products, red and white meats and shellfish for B-12. Fortified foods can give you some but not all the B vitamins you need. Vegans and vegetarians should take supplements to compensate for the absence of animal foods, which are sources of B-12. If you have trouble absorbing vitamins from your diet, your doctor may prescribe injections or supplements to reverse anemia or prevent worsening of symptoms.
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