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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes B12 Deficiency?

Hi, may I answer your health queries right now ? Please type your query here...I have a b12 defiency. I've been taking shots for over a year now. My doctor cut down my shots to once a month for 3 months. Had my b12 checked again and it was down to where it was to begin with. So he upped it to twice a month now and it's still not where it's suppost to be. Also taking 500 mg b12 vitiamins daily. What could be causing my b12 to drop like that?

Fri, 6 Feb 2015
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hi!
Incomplete data!
Anyhow,
Vitamin B12 deficiency is more commonly seen in pure vegetarians!
Other common causes include:

Heavy alcohol ingestion
Atrophic gastritis, in which your stomach lining has thinned
Pernicious anemia, which makes it hard for your body to absorb vitamin B12
Surgery that removed part of your stomach or small intestine,
Conditions affecting the small intestine, such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, bacterial growth, or a parasite

Long-term use of acid-reducing drugs.

These are some of the common causes of vitamin 12 deficiency.
May be you are having the lack of factor which is required for Vitamin B 12 absorption.
Consult your doctor to find out the cause in your case.
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What Causes B12 Deficiency?

Hi! Incomplete data! Anyhow, Vitamin B12 deficiency is more commonly seen in pure vegetarians! Other common causes include: Heavy alcohol ingestion Atrophic gastritis, in which your stomach lining has thinned Pernicious anemia, which makes it hard for your body to absorb vitamin B12 Surgery that removed part of your stomach or small intestine, Conditions affecting the small intestine, such as Crohn s disease, celiac disease, bacterial growth, or a parasite Long-term use of acid-reducing drugs. These are some of the common causes of vitamin 12 deficiency. May be you are having the lack of factor which is required for Vitamin B 12 absorption. Consult your doctor to find out the cause in your case.