This book describes Vitamin B12 Anemia, Diagnosis and Treatment and Related Diseases Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin present in many foods. Vitamin B12 is found in meat, poultry, not present in vegetables and fruits Vitamin B12 is important for red blood cells production. It is also important for peripheral nerve function Vitamin B12 Deficiency is a silent disease Severity of Vitamin B12 deficiency is inversely related to age One cause of Vitamin B12 deficiency is malabsorption The other cause is poor food intake function It is a cause of peripheral neuropathy There is heart failure and cardiomyopathy There may be megaloblastic and pernicious anemia There may be sub-acute combined degeneration of brain and dementia Prevention of Vitamin B12 Deficiency is as important as treatment. Treatment of Vitamin B12 Deficiency is taking vitamin B12 supplements And a diet containing red meat, egg yolks, fortified milk and liver, There are no vegetable sources such as whole grain cereals and green vegetables -An original poem by Kenneth Kee Vitamin B12 Anemia is a blood disorder produced by a deficiency of healthy red blood cells due to lesser than normal quantities of vitamin B12. Inadequate red blood cells means inadequate quantity of hemoglobin, the main ‘oxygen’ transport carriers of the body and the main indicator of anemia in the human body. Vitamin B12 Anemia can be categorized as mild, moderate, and severe; with the mild type having the maximum amount of RBCs, and severe having the least amount of RBCs. Vitamin B12 Anemia happens: When there is Vitamin B12 deficiencies due to: Diet - starvation, lactating mothers should take more Vitamin B12 Mal-absorption as in celiac syndrome, sprue or hepatitic cirrhosis Intestinal parasites such as diphyllobothrium latum Pernicious anemia when the gastric mucosa cannot produce the intrinsic factor necessary for vitamin B12 absorption Alcohol use and certain medicines Vitamin B12 anemia is a silent disease in the early stages. Vitamin B12 Deficiency affects: Blood - anemia with giddiness, pallor and tiredness Brain –sub-acute combined degeneration of spinal cord and brain - loss of balance, numbness or tingling in the arms and legs and weakness Diagnosis is by a full blood count tests of RBC, WBC, platelets and hemoglobin levels and low vitamin B12 blood level The aim of Vitamin B12 anemia treatment is the correction of anemia and the prevention of sub-acute combined degeneration of spinal cord and brain. Medical Treatment Vitamin B12 is a vitamin present in foods such as meat, fish, and dairy products. Vitamin B12 is used for treating and preventing vitamin B12 anemia and to treat pernicious anemia It can be taken by mouth or a nasal spray or gel or as an injection where other means are not absorbed. 1000 mcg of vitamin B12 is given intramuscularly once a month. TABLE OF CONTENT Introduction Chapter 1 Vitamin B12 Anemia Chapter 2 Causes Chapter 3 Symptoms Chapter 4 Diagnosis Chapter 5 Treatment Chapter 6 Prognosis Chapter 7 Pernicious Anemia Chapter 8 Megaloblastic Anemia Epilogue