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Vitamin
deficiency anemia
Complications
Being deficient in vitamins increases the risk of many health problems:
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Birth defects.
Lack of folate in pregnant women can lead to birth defects of the
brain and spine. During pregnancy, the fetus needs supplemental
folic acid to make healthy blood and nerve cells.
-
Nervous system
disorders.
While vitamin B-12 is important for the production of red blood
cells, it's also important for a healthy nervous system. Untreated,
vitamin B-12 deficiency can lead to neurologic problems, such as
persistent tingling in your hands and feet known as peripheral
neuropathy. It can lead to mental confusion and forgetfulness,
because vitamin B-12 is also necessary for healthy brain function.
Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause these and other health problems
before it leads to anemia.
-
Scurvy.
Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy. Signs and symptoms of this
rare disease include bleeding under the skin and around the gums.
Treatment
Treatment of vitamin deficiency anemias is with supplements and changes
in diet.
-
Folate
deficiency anemia.
Treatment involves eating a healthy diet and taking folic acid
supplements as prescribed by your doctor. In almost all cases, folic
acid supplements are taken orally every day. It usually takes a
month or longer to correct folate deficiency anemia. If you're
someone who can't absorb folate easily, you may need to take folic
acid supplements for life.
-
Vitamin B-12
deficiency anemia (pernicious anemia).
You can treat vitamin B-12 deficiency related to a poor diet with
changes in your diet along with vitamin B-12 supplementation, under
a doctor's supervision. If your body can't absorb vitamin B-12,
you'll need lifelong injections of vitamin B-12. At first you'll
need the shots, which you can administer yourself, daily.
Eventually, you need them just once a month.
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Vitamin C
deficiency anemia.
Treatment for this rare anemia is with vitamin C tablets. Take them
as directed by your doctor. Additionally, increase your intake of
foods and beverages that contain vitamin C.
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