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Women at high risk for B12 deficiency
in Daily Dose
Women at high risk for B12 deficiency

Extended use of oral contraceptives puts women at a greater risk, says study


If you suffer from chronic fatigue, constipation, memory loss, feel nervous, get easily irritated, have frequent migraines and are anaemic, probably you are suffering from Vitamin B12 deficiency. This vitamin is important for the formation of red blood cells, synthesis of DNA molecules, repairing blood cells, maintenance of nervous system and growth.


The deficiency is caused by an inability of the body to absorb vitamin B12 or a lack of Vit B12 in the diet.

Further, women are at a higher risk of acquiring it at a younger age than men. A recent survey by Metropolis Healthcare Ltd revealed that over a period of one year, men with abnormal Vitamin B12 levels were aged above 45 years while women were aged between 16-45 years.

The study conducted on 76,087 patients from 2009-10, revealed that the ratio of Vitamin B12 deficiency in men and women is 1:2. Doctors attribute it to Malabsorption syndrome, vegetarian diets, frequent use of oral contraceptives pills, smoking and alcohol. “Despite the inclusion of Vitamin B12 in diet, oral contraceptives increase hormone levels which hamper the absorption. Alcohol and smoking hampers absorption too. It can cause anaemia, neurological disorders and heart ailments,” said Dr. Nisha Ahmed, chief of lab services, Metropolis.

How pills affect

Women on pills for a long time, with these symptoms are also likely to develop atherosclerosis — a silent killer that has no symptoms or warning signs until a stroke happens.

Experts claim that people with vegetarian diets are more inclined to B12 deficiency than non-vegetarians.

Why it’s serious

Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to decreased production of red blood cells which are needed for delivery of oxygen to the cells and tissues.

Symptoms

• Pale skin

• Feel weak, tired, lightheaded

• Diarrhoea or constipation

• Feel sick to your stomach, weight loss

• Sore, red tongue or bleeding gums

Treatment

Vitamin B12 deficiency can usually be treated successfully especially if patients are given vitamin B12 injections and oral pills.
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    Oh!Why the vegetarians are more prone to vitamin B12 deficiency?.
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    nagalakshmi.karunanidhi wrote:
    [quote]Oh!Why the vegetarians are more prone to vitamin B12 deficiency?.[/quote]

    @ nagalakshmi,
    Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products,


    Sources of Vitamin B12
    Food

    Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Vitamin B12 is generally not present in plant foods, but fortified breakfast cereals are a readily available source of vitamin B12 with high bioavailability for vegetarians [5,13-15]. Some nutritional yeast products also contain vitamin B12. Fortified foods vary in formulation, so it is important to read product labels to determine which added nutrients they contain.
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    Vegetarians

    Strict vegetarians and vegans are at greater risk than lacto-ovo vegetarians and nonvegetarians of developing vitamin B12 deficiency because natural food sources of vitamin B12 are limited to animal foods [5]. Fortified breakfast cereals are one of the few sources of vitamin B12 from plants and can be used as a dietary source of vitamin B12 for strict vegetarians and vegans.

    Pregnant and lactating women who follow strict vegetarian diets and their infants

    Vitamin B12 crosses the placenta during pregnancy and is present in breast milk. Exclusively breastfed infants of women who consume no animal products may have very limited reserves of vitamin B12 and can develop vitamin B12 deficiency within months of birth [5,43]. Undetected and untreated vitamin B12 deficiency in infants can result in severe and permanent neurological damage.
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    Starting a Diet for Vitamin B12 Deficiency

    Before you launch a diet for vitamin B12 deficiency, let's review your reasons for taking this step. Do you recognize the symptoms above? Are you experiencing other symptoms as well? Have you seen a doctor about your concerns? The reason this is important is that it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of an ailment without the assistance of a medical professional. If there is something else, perhaps more serious in nature, you definitely don't want to waste time on a wild goose chase.

    Once you determine that you do indeed have a vitamin B12 deficiency and that you need to dramatically improve your vitamin B12 intake, the following list offers prime candidates for your new diet.
    Foods Rich In Vitamin B12

    * Meat, both red and white (beef, lamb, chicken etc)
    * Sea food (mollusks, clams, mackerel, salmon, caviar etc)
    * Eggs
    * Cheese and other dairy products
    * Most adult breakfast cereals
    * Fortified soy milk
    * Fortified meat substitutes

    As mentioned earlier, vitamin B12 is one of the most commonly fortified vitamins, so look for it in pretty much anything from bread and waffles to sports protein bars and protein shakes.
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    vitamin B12 deficiency cause anaemia?

    Red blood cells are made in the bone marrow and circulate in the blood. They only have a life expectancy of about four months.

    The body needs iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid (one of the B group of vitamins) to produce more red blood cells. If there is a lack of one or more of these nutrients, anaemia will develop.

    Anaemia due to a lack of vitamin B12 is also called pernicious anaemia.

    Vitamin B12 is essential for the nervous system, which is why a deficiency can also cause inflammation of the nerves (neuritis) and dementia (mental deterioration).

    Elderly people are particularly at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, although it may also be present in the young women.
    What causes this type of anaemia?

    * Not eating enough foods that contain vitamin B12. A vegetarian or vegan diet can cause deficiency because vitamin B12 is only found in foods of animal origin, such as meat, fish, eggs and milk.
    * Inability of the small intestine to absorb vitamin B12. The stomach produces a substance called intrinsic factor to absorb vitamin B12 from food. In the UK, the most common cause of B12 deficiency is a lack of intrinsic factor.
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    What can be done to avoid vitamin B12 deficiency?

    * Eat a varied diet. Good sources of vitamin B12 are liver, fish and eggs.
    * Vegans should take vitamin B12 supplements to avoid deficiency.
    * If a family member has pernicious anaemia, you should take extra care to prevent deficiency.
    * Anyone who has undergone surgery in their small intestine or stomach should pay attention to any of the symptoms mentioned above.
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    Thanks for clearing my doubt,Neetu.I am happy that at least some vegetarian foods are available with vitamin B12 supplement.
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    Here is significance of non vegetarian food. Nature has provided us a variety of food items including non veg. Including all veg as well as non veg balances our diet and keeps us free from all diseases.

    G. K. Ajmani Tax consultant
    http://gkajmani-mystraythoughts.blogspot.com/

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    But still I could not think of including a non veg in my diet.
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    nagalakshmi.karunanidhi wrote:
    [quote]But still I could not think of including a non veg in my diet.[/quote]

    same here nagalakshmi,i can never think of including non veg food into my diet......

    i think we have many veg food supplements too....
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