Iron deficiency

[roBstecar]

Does vb12 deficiency cause iron deficiency

[Nackapan]

Yes it can do. I wasn't when b12 defiency diagnosed but afterwards my ferritin levels dropped.

It should be tested along with folate Vitamin d and anything else like intrinsic factor test. Caeliac. Right at the start.

[fbirder]

No. Low B12 can not cause low iron.

However, one cause of a B12 deficiency - Pernicious Anaemia - can also cause iron deficiency.

Both are caused by the immune system attacking cells in the stomach. These cells do two main things - they make Intrinsic Factor (essential for the absorption of B12) and they make gastric acid (needed to release protein-bound iron from food, and to get that iron dissolved for absorption).

[Nackapan]

B12 defiency can cause megoblastic anaemia.

I'm on iron since b12 deficient. Have never been on iron in my life before this.

I assume I'm not absorbing iron in the same way as I'm not absorbing b12??

So to put it another way it is not uncommon for people's iron status to change.

The same for other vitamins and minerals. A blood test will show any defiencies.

Hope that helps you.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Nackapan]

B12 deficiency causes a different type of anaemia from iron deficiency.

It is possible to have both at the same time if you are deficient in both iron and B12.

If you have a B12 absorption problem that can affect absorption of other vitamins and minerals, particularly folate and iron.

B12 deficiency does not cause iron deficiency and vice versa but an absorption problem can cause both

[Hidden]

The deficiency of B12 is not the cause of iron deficiency. PA can cause iron deficiency. I have P.A. and it caused my iron deficiency. It does this because P.A. reduces the level of stomach acid which is necessary for the absorption of iron. I take gentle iron, 2 sachets to keep my ferritin level up.

[palmier]

B12 can cause macrocytic anemia, but can also affect the production of white blood cells, for example trombocytes which help blood coagulate. Blood contains a lot of iron, and bleeding just a little daily can with time lead to iron deficiency. So in theory at least it is possible for a b12 deficiency to lead to iron deficiency due to lowered capacity to inhibit bleeding.

[palmier]

B12 deficiency can also lead to hemolytic anemia:

"Pseudo-thrombotic microangiopathy (pseudo-TMA) is a recognized, yet uncommon, clinical presentation of vitamin B12 deficiency. Patients with pseudo-TMA present with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA), thrombocytopenia and schistocytes."

researchgate.net/publicatio...