Vitamin Deficiency Anaemia 2021

Overview

Anaemia is is a condition where the is a low number of red blood cells. There are many types of anaemia, including Sickle cell anaemia, Vitamin deficiency anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia – Just to mention a few. In this article, we will discuss Vitamin Deficiency Anaemia. Please take a look at this article on Anaemia, to get an overall view on and Anemia and type of anaemia present. In the case of vitamin deficiency Anaemia, there low amounts of red blood cells that are contributed by the lack of certain vitamins in the body mostly Folate, vitamin C and Vitamin B – 12. These vitamins are found in the foods we eat.

Signs & Symptoms

Vitamin deficiency anaemia can have the following signs and symptoms;

• Personality changes
• Dizziness
• Arrhythmia (Irregular heartbeats)
• Pale or yellow skin (Most common symptom)
• Weight loss
• confusion
• Apnea
• A feeling of numbness on the extremities
• Muscle weakness

N/B: These symptoms may appear gradually taking months to years.

Causes

1. 1. A poor diet containing vitamin C, Vitamin B – 12 and folate.
   2. Vitamin deficiency Anemia can occur due to poor absorption of food eaten by the body e.g. in Celiac disease.

Risk factors

There following are risk factors making one vulnerable to Vitamin Deficiency Anemia;

• Intake of food with little or no natural vitamins.
• Overcooking of food will often lead to Vitamin Deficiency Anemia as it gets rid of all the vitamins.
• Consumption of alcohol leads to poor malabsorption of vitamins in food.
• Medical conditions causing poor absorption of food e.g. Celiac disease.
• Pregnant women are also at risk of Vitamin Deficiency Anemia e.g. That is why it recommended that pregnant women are given folate supplements during pregnancy.
• Some medications are also known to prevent absorption of vitamins, for example, Anti-acids and Anti-seizures medications.

Complications

Vitamin deficiency Anemia may lead to other complications, including;

1. Pregnancy complications. Premature birth may be experienced in mothers with Folate deficiency. That is why pregnant women are encouraged to go for regular check-ups.
2. Scurvy is a disease resulting from a lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
3. Nervous system disorders. Deficiency in Vitamin B- 12, which is not only important in the production of red blood cells but also important in normal neurological functions. Vitamin B – 12 deficiency can cause numbness or a tingling feeling in a patient’s extremities.

Prevention

1. Avoid smoking
2. Take multivitamins. If you feel like you are getting enough vitamins, consult your doctor who will prescribe vitamin supplements to help you with that.
3. Avoid taking alcohol, or take in Moderation. Alcohol can contribute to vitamin deficiency anaemia. If a person chooses to drink alcohol, they should do so in moderation.
4. Most important is to Take a balanced diet with all the necessary vitamins. Some examples include:

Foods rich in folate include:

• Green vegetables such as Kales and Spinach
• Nuts such as Groundnuts
• Enriched grain products, such as cereals.
• Fruits for example Apples.

Foods rich in vitamin B-12 include:

• Eggs
• Fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals
• Milk and yoghurt
• Meat

Foods rich in vitamin C include:

• Citrus fruits such as oranges
• Tomatoes

Diagnosis

As a Doctor, what lab tests do you think you can do to diagnose this condition? Leave a comment below letting me know.

Just to mention a few below are some of the diagnostic lab tests you can do routine blood tests. Here we check if the patient has;

1. 1. 1. the normal amount of red blood cells, which will essentially be less than normal, in a person with Vitamin Deficiency Anemia.
      2. We will also check if the size of the red blood cells is larger than normal.
      3. the level of vitamin B-12 in your blood
      4. the level of folate in your blood

Leave a comment letting me know of any other tests you might know of.

Treatment

Treatment will include dietary changes and the prescription of supplements to the patients.

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