Your body needs vitamin B12 to make red blood cells. In order to provide vitamin B12 to your cells:
You must eat enough foods that contain vitamin B12, such as meat, poultry, shellfish, eggs, and dairy products. Your body must absorb enough vitamin B12. Your body uses a special protein, called intrinsic factor, released by cells in the stomach. The combination of vitamin B12 attached to intrinsic factor is absorbed in the last part of the small intestine.
A lack of vitamin B12 in the diet may be due to:
Eating a vegetarian diet Poor diet in infancy Poor nutrition during pregnancy
A number of problems can make it difficult for your body to absorb enough vitamin B12:
Chronic alcoholism Crohn's disease, celiac disease, infection with the fish tapeworm, or other problems that make it difficult for your body to digest foods Pernicious anemia, which occurs when your body destroys cells that make intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor is needed to absorb vitamin B12. Surgeries that remove certain parts of your stomach or small intestine, such as some weight-loss surgeries Taking antacids and other heartburn medicines for a long period of time
What causes Vitamin B12 deficiency?
Your body needs vitamin {{ORGANIZATION}} to make red blood cells. In order to provide vitamin {{ORGANIZATION}} to your cells:
You must eat enough foods that contain vitamin {{ORGANIZATION}}, such as meat, poultry, shellfish, eggs, and dairy products. Your body must absorb enough vitamin {{ORGANIZATION}}. Your body uses a special protein, called intrinsic factor, released by cells in the stomach. The combination of vitamin {{ORGANIZATION}} attached to intrinsic factor is absorbed in the last part of the small intestine.
A lack of vitamin {{ORGANIZATION}} in the diet may be due to:
Eating a vegetarian diet Poor diet in infancy Poor nutrition during pregnancy
A number of problems can make it difficult for your body to absorb enough vitamin {{ORGANIZATION}}:
Chronic alcoholism {{NAME}}'s disease, celiac disease, infection with the fish tapeworm, or other problems that make it difficult for your body to digest foods {{NAME}} anemia, which occurs when your body destroys cells that make intrinsic factor. Intrinsic factor is needed to absorb vitamin {{ORGANIZATION}}. Surgeries that remove certain parts of your stomach or small intestine, such as some weight-loss surgeries Taking antacids and other heartburn medicines for a long period of time