Guest guest Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Some posts from another group that you might find interesting... Worldwide, most B12 deficiency is related to diet. Among people with autoimmune diseases, diet is the most common cause but there's a fair amount of pernicious anemia. I'm not sure if you saw this article http://autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/article.cfm/vitamin_ b12_deficiency but it probably has the most pertinent info for you. The antibody tests I mention in the article are the best way to tell the cause of B12. Hope this helps, Elaine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pernicious Anemia: Vitamin B-12 I have never heard that TRab antibodies can effect B-12. Antibodies are pretty specific to what they target, and I've never heard of them targetting intestines. But I do know that untreated hypERthyroidism can cause depletion of many nutrients and B-12 can be included. Or maybe the people discussing this had Pernicious anemia on top of their thyroid disease? PA is also an autoimmune disease that does make antibodies that prevent B-12 from being absorbed. Many people with Graves/Hashi' s have PA too. Could that be what they were refering to? Oh dang....I just saw that low hemoglobin can mean low B-12 ---- my labs last week showed " low hemoglobin " . The nurse told me on the phone this meant low iron, so I've been shovelling spinach & Vit C down my throat --- but I see now this might not be what's wrong!! Eek. I'm vegetarian too (B-12 only comes from animal products). And I still haven't heard from my doctor about any of this or what I should do about this low hemoglobin result. Ug. BTW, I went to see the doc because of fatigue, headaches, weakness, cramps... HOW TO TEST FOR PERNICIOUS ANEMIA: Anyone with symptoms that suggest anaemia, such as pale skin, weakness and fatigue, should visit their GP. He or she will ask about your symptoms, medical history and current eating habits, and perform a physical examination. A simple blood test can count the number of red blood cells and measure the amount of hemoglobin. The size of the red blood cells will also be examined. Enlarged red cells, called megaloblasts, are caused by vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency. If they are present the condition is called megaloblastic anaemia. Finding megaloblasts in the blood can help to diagnose anaemia but does not determine the cause. The level of vitamin B12 can be measured with a blood test, if necessary. The GP may recommend further tests to identify the cause of B12 deficiency. One test looks at how well vitamin B12 is absorbed by the body. This involves fasting overnight and then having a vitamin B12 injection and taking radioactive- labelled vitamin B12 tablets. (RAI-B12???? eek!) The amount of vitamin B12 that comes out in the urine is measured. This is called the Schilling test. The antibodies which cause pernicious anaemia can also be tested for. A blood test can also identify coeliac disease or blood conditions such as thalassaemia. Here's more.... Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency Pernicious anemia In most cases, vitamin B12 deficiency happens because the stomach cannot produce enough of a substance called intrinsic factor (IF), which is needed for vitamin B12 to be absorbed. This is called pernicious anaemia. Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune condition. Normally cells called antibodies, produced by the body's immune system, attack foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria. With autoimmune conditions, the immune system mistakes the person's own tissue as foreign and attacks it. With pernicious anaemia, antibodies damage the cells in the stomach that produce intrinsic factor. The cause of pernicious anaemia is not known. It usually develops in people over the age of 50, and tends to run in families. If left untreated, pernicious anaemia can become life-threatening. Other causes of B12 deficiency Poor absorption of vitamin B12 can be caused by parasites or certain bacteria that interfere with absorption in the small intestine. Crohn's disease (a condition of the small bowel) can also interfere with vitamin B12 absorption. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be associated with a poorly functioning pancreas; liver damage, caused by excess alcohol intake; gastrectomy (surgical removal of part or all of the stomach); and taking some medications for stomach ulcers on a long-term basis. Dietary-related vitamin B12 deficiency is rare, but strict vegans may be at risk because their diet excludes the foods that provide this vitamin. Vitamin B12 is the only vitamin that is not found in vegetables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Elaine, Where is the article at on here. I want to read it and can't find it. thank you, Bernetta -- Some B12 Info Some posts from another group that you might find interesting... Worldwide, most B12 deficiency is related to diet. Among people with autoimmune diseases, diet is the most common cause but there's a fair amount of pernicious anemia. I'm not sure if you saw this article http://autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/article.cfm/vitamin_ b12_deficiency but it probably has the most pertinent info for you. The antibody tests I mention in the article are the best way to tell the cause of B12. Hope this helps, Elaine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pernicious Anemia: Vitamin B-12 I have never heard that TRab antibodies can effect B-12. Antibodies are pretty specific to what they target, and I've never heard of them targetting intestines. But I do know that untreated hypERthyroidism can cause depletion of many nutrients and B-12 can be included. Or maybe the people discussing this had Pernicious anemia on top of their thyroid disease? PA is also an autoimmune disease that does make antibodies that prevent B-12 from being absorbed. Many people with Graves/Hashi' s have PA too. Could that be what they were refering to? Oh dang....I just saw that low hemoglobin can mean low B-12 ---- my labs last week showed "low hemoglobin". The nurse told me on the phone this meant low iron, so I've been shovelling spinach & Vit C down my throat --- but I see now this might not be what's wrong!! Eek. I'm vegetarian too (B-12 only comes from animal products). And I still haven't heard from my doctor about any of this or what I should do about this low hemoglobin result. Ug. BTW, I went to see the doc because of fatigue, headaches, weakness, cramps... HOW TO TEST FOR PERNICIOUS ANEMIA: Anyone with symptoms that suggest anaemia, such as pale skin, weakness and fatigue, should visit their GP. He or she will ask about your symptoms, medical history and current eating habits, and perform a physical examination. A simple blood test can count the number of red blood cells and measure the amount of hemoglobin. The size of the red blood cells will also be examined. Enlarged red cells, called megaloblasts, are caused by vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency. If they are present the condition is called megaloblastic anaemia. Finding megaloblasts in the blood can help to diagnose anaemia but does not determine the cause. The level of vitamin B12 can be measured with a blood test, if necessary. The GP may recommend further tests to identify the cause of B12 deficiency. One test looks at how well vitamin B12 is absorbed by the body. This involves fasting overnight and then having a vitamin B12 injection and taking radioactive- labelled vitamin B12 tablets. (RAI-B12???? eek!) The amount of vitamin B12 that comes out in the urine is measured. This is called the Schilling test. The antibodies which cause pernicious anaemia can also be tested for. A blood test can also identify coeliac disease or blood conditions such as thalassaemia. Here's more.... Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency Pernicious anemia In most cases, vitamin B12 deficiency happens because the stomach cannot produce enough of a substance called intrinsic factor (IF), which is needed for vitamin B12 to be absorbed. This is called pernicious anaemia. Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune condition. Normally cells called antibodies, produced by the body's immune system, attack foreign substances such as viruses and bacteria. With autoimmune conditions, the immune system mistakes the person's own tissue as foreign and attacks it. With pernicious anaemia, antibodies damage the cells in the stomach that produce intrinsic factor. The cause of pernicious anaemia is not known. It usually develops in people over the age of 50, and tends to run in families. If left untreated, pernicious anaemia can become life-threatening. Other causes of B12 deficiency Poor absorption of vitamin B12 can be caused by parasites or certain bacteria that interfere with absorption in the small intestine. Crohn's disease (a condition of the small bowel) can also interfere with vitamin B12 absorption. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be associated with a poorly functioning pancreas; liver damage, caused by excess alcohol intake; gastrectomy (surgical removal of part or all of the stomach); and taking some medications for stomach ulcers on a long-term basis. Dietary-related vitamin B12 deficiency is rare, but strict vegans may be at risk because their diet excludes the foods that provide this vitamin. Vitamin B12 is the only vitamin that is not found in vegetables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2007 Report Share Posted May 17, 2007 Bernetta, I posted this. Here is the link to the article; http://autoimmunedisease.suite101.com/article.cfm/vitamin_b12_deficiency Elaine is the Thyroid Guru at the Graves Support Group and has wrote a few books on the subject. She also has experinced all this crap first hand. I really admire her and all she has done for thyroid patients. Sami > > Elaine, > Where is the article at on here. I want to read it and can't find it. thank > you, Bernetta > > -- Some B12 Info > > Some posts from another group that you might find interesting... > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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