Smoking interferes with the absorption of nutrients, such as vitamin C, so it can raise your risk of a vitamin deficiency. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you've tried to quit on your own and haven't been successful, talk with your doctor about strategies to help you quit.
Alcohol can contribute to vitamin deficiency anemia. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, moderate drinking is generally considered to be:.
A drink is 12 ounces milliliters of beer, 5 ounces milliliters of wine or 1. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Vitamin deficiency anemia is a lack of healthy red blood cells caused when you have lower than normal amounts of certain vitamins.
Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Kaushansky K, et al. Folate, cobalamin and megaloblastic anemias.
In: Williams Hematology. McGraw-Hill Education; Accessed Oct. Means RT, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency.
Department of Health and Human Services and U. This causes the bone marrow to make fewer red blood cells. In some cases the red blood cells die sooner than normal. Vitamin B 12 deficiency anemia is more common in people whose families come from northern Europe. It is caused by one of the following:. Other types of megaloblastic anemia may be linked with type 1 diabetes, thyroid disease, and a family history of the disease.
The inability to make intrinsic factor may be the result of several factors, such as chronic gastritis, gastrectomy removal of all or part of the stomach , or an autoimmune condition the body attacks its own tissues. Other types of megaloblastic anemia may be associated with type 1 diabetes, thyroid disease, and a family history of the disease.
The symptoms of megaloblastic anemia may look like other blood conditions or health problems. Always see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. This type of anemia is usually found during a medical exam through a routine blood test. Your healthcare provider will take your medical history and give you a physical exam.
Your provider may give you additional blood tests. You may also have other evaluation procedures, such as a bone marrow biopsy. Vitamin B 12 deficiency anemia and folate deficiency anemia often occur together and can be hard to tell apart. Treatment may include vitamin B 12 shots injections and folic acid pills. Find out more about vitamins and nutrition in pregnancy. Page last reviewed: 23 May Next review due: 23 May Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency Pernicious anaemia Pernicious anaemia is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency in the UK.
Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune condition that affects your stomach. Diet Some people can develop a vitamin B12 deficiency as a result of not getting enough vitamin B12 from their diet. Conditions affecting the stomach Some stomach conditions or stomach operations can prevent the absorption of enough vitamin B Conditions affecting the intestines Some conditions that affect your intestines can also stop you absorbing the necessary amount of vitamin B Medicines Some types of medicine can lead to a reduction in the amount of vitamin B12 in your body.
Functional vitamin B12 deficiency Some people can experience problems related to a vitamin B12 deficiency, despite appearing to have normal levels of vitamin B12 in their blood. This results in neurological complications involving the spinal cord. Causes of folate deficiency Folate dissolves in water, which means your body is unable to store it for long periods of time.
Diet Good sources of folate include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, peas, chickpeas and brown rice. Malabsorption Sometimes your body may be unable to absorb folate as effectively as it should.
Excessive peeing You may lose folate from your body if you pee frequently. This can be caused by an underlying condition that affects one of your organs, such as: congestive heart failure — where the heart is unable to pump enough blood around the body acute liver damage — often caused by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol long-term dialysis — where a machine that replicates the kidney function is used to filter waste products from the blood Medicine Some types of medicines reduce the amount of folate in your body or make the folate harder to absorb.
Other causes Your body sometimes requires more folate than normal. Your body may need more folate than usual if you: are pregnant have cancer have a blood disorder — such as sickle cell anaemia , an inherited blood disorder that causes red blood cells to develop abnormally are fighting an infection or health condition that causes inflammation redness and swelling Premature babies born before the 37th week of pregnancy are also more likely to develop a folate deficiency because their developing bodies require higher amounts of folate than normal.
Bilirubin is a slightly red or brown-colored substance, which is produced by the liver when it breaks down old blood cells. Large amounts of bilirubin are what give your skin and eyes a yellow tinge 6 , 7. Summary: If you have a B12 deficiency, your skin may appear pale or jaundiced. In the elderly, this type of anemia is often caused by an autoimmune condition known as pernicious anemia.
Intrinsic factor is essential for preventing a B12 deficiency, as it binds with vitamin B12 in your gut so that you are able to absorb it 8. This can make you feel tired and weak. This can occur over time, as vitamin B12 is an important contributor to the metabolic pathway that produces the fatty substance myelin.
Myelin surrounds your nerves as a form of protection and insulation 9. One common sign of this happening is paresthesia, or the sensation of pins and needles, which is similar to a prickling sensation in your hands and feet. Interestingly, the neurological symptoms associated with B12 deficiency usually occur alongside anemia. That said, sensations of pins and needles are a common symptom that can have many causes, so this symptom alone is not usually a sign of B12 deficiency.
Summary: B12 plays an important role in the production of myelin, which insulates your nerves and is critical to your nervous system function. A common sign of potential nerve damage in B12 deficiency is a sensation of pins and needles. If untreated, the damage to your nervous system caused by a B12 deficiency could cause changes to the way you walk and move. This symptom is often seen in undiagnosed B12 deficiency in the elderly, as people over the age of 60 are more prone to a B12 deficiency.
However, preventing or treating deficiencies in this group may improve mobility 11 , 12 , Also, this symptom may be present in young people who have a severe, untreated deficiency Summary: The damage caused by long-term, untreated B12 deficiency can affect your balance and cause changes to the way you walk and move.
The inflammation can also make your tongue look smooth, as all the tiny bumps on your tongue that contain your taste buds stretch out and disappear. Studies have shown that a swollen and inflamed tongue that has long straight lesions on it could be an early sign of vitamin B12 deficiency 15 , Additionally, some people with a B12 deficiency may experience other oral symptoms, such as mouth ulcers, feelings of pins and needles in the tongue or a burning and itching sensation in the mouth 15 , Summary: An early sign of B12 deficiency may be a red and swollen tongue.
This condition is known as glossitis.
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