DIET AND FITNESS:
Pernicious Anemia --Causes and
Treatments
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February 5, 2010, last updated January 10, 2013
By Katrina Devine, Contributing Columnist
What do Annie Oakley, the sharp shooter, and Alexander
Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, have in common?
The answer is "pernicious anemia". Annie Oakley died of the
disease in 1926. Back then the diagnosis of pernicious
anemia was a death sentence but today with correct
diagnosis and prompt treatment sufferers usually make a full
recovery.
Most people are aware of the more common form of anemia,
the one caused by insufficient iron. But pernicious anemia is
different.
Also known as "macrocytic achylic anemia" or "cobalamin
deficiency", pernicious anemia is caused by a lack of a
substance called "intrinsic factor" needed in the
gastrointestinal tract to absorb vitamin B-12.
Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune disease where the body
attacks itself, in this case it attacks the intrinsic factor. The
inability to absorb B-12 in the intestinal tract causes
inadequate production of red blood cells. Pernicious anemia
is essentially the lack of B-12. In fact, Vitamin B-12 itself was
only discovered in the search for a cure for pernicious
anemia.
Pernicious Anemia Is a Serious Condition
Left untreated, pernicious anemia can cause paranoia,
delirium and confusion. It can also lead to gastric cancer.
[Update:
In fact, according to a 2012 study from the University
Sapienza in Rome, Italy, led by Dr. L. Vannella, those who
have pernicious anemia have a 7 times greater risk for
gastric cancer those who do not.]
What Causes Pernicious Anemia?
The causes of pernicious anemia are varied. Some people
inherit it and simply have a defective gene passed down from
one or both parents.
It has also been discovered that people of northern
European descent are more likely to develop the disease
than others. Men and women are equally at risk.
Other causes of pernicious anemia are existing gastric
problems and other conditions. People with the following
conditions are particularly susceptible--- Chronic thyroiditis,
Hypoparathyroidism, Hypopituitarism, Graves disease,
Addison’s disease, Type 1 diabetes, Secondary amenorrhea,
myasthenia gravis, vitiligo, Crohn's disease and celiac disease.
Those who have recently gone through stomach surgery
such as gastric bypass surgery and those taking certain
medications are also at risk.
The condition is not caused alone by eating the wrong foods
with the exception of strict vegetarians or vegans. However,
it is an important factor. Foods rich in vitamin B-12 include;
meat-especially liver, poultry, fish and shellfish, milk and milk
products. Eggs can be a good source also but it should be
noted that they also contain elements that block absorption.
For those who are vegan, it is recommended that they eat B-
12 fortified foods such as breakfast cereals.
Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia
Adults over the age of 30 are most at risk but the disease is
often not diagnosed before the age of 60 because of the
nature of the symptoms. The symptoms that the disease
present are easily misdiagnosed as other conditions.
Because of B-12’s importance to the brain and nervous
system many of the symptoms relate to these and the lack of
oxygen traveling to the brain.
Symptoms of pernicious anemia include bleeding gums,
diarrhea, fatigue, impaired sense of smell, loss of muscle
reflexes, loss of appetite, pallor and premature gray hair,
personality or memory changes, rapid heart rate, shortness
of breath, tingling and numbness of hands and feet, cold feet
and hands, tongue problems- normally swollen and red --
and unsteadiness while walking, especially in the dark.
One important symptom of pernicious anemia in the elderly is
cognitive impairment. Are you forgetting things? The
problem could be Vitamin B-12 deficiency. According to a
1992 study from the Denver VA Medical Center (led by Dr.
Pennypacker), as many as 14% of the elderly have Vitamin
B-12 deficiency and another 62% have levels of Vitamin b-
12 at the low end of normal.
Diagnosis & Treatment of Pernicious Anemia
As mentioned above, pernicous anemia is often mis-
diagnosed. If any of your family members had the condition,
and you have any of the symptoms, special screening is
recommended to ensure early diagnosis. You will need full
blood tests and sometimes urine tests.
If the condition is simply caused by the lack of vitamin B-12,
then eating foods rich in Vitamin B-12, or taking a course of
B-12 supplements or injections will rectify the problem.
Usually strong injections of vitamin B-12 are given once a
week for 5 or 6 weeks and then once a month.
A nasal spray and oral dose are also available but not as
widely used as the injections.
If the pernicious anemia is caused by an underlying
condition, then that condition must be treated also to
successful fight the deficiency.
Foods Rich in Vitamin B-12 (folic acid)
-liver
-egg yolks
-chicken giblets
-kidneys
-almonds, nuts
-beans, lentils
-split peas
-soya
-beetroot
-spinach
-peaches
-cabbage
-brussel sprouts
-broccoli
-asparagus
-oranges
-bananas
Here is one last important thing to remember in your
treatment for pernicious anemia. Don't stop. Once you have
received treatment and the condition disappears, you should
continue taking Vitamin B-12 unless your doctor indicates
otherwise, because pernicious anemia can reoccur.
Fortunately, unlike iron or other vitamins and minerals, B-12
has no established toxicity for higher doses or prolonged use.
Related: Top 10 Foods That Fight Anemia / How Much Is
Too Much Salt? /Sugar-The Disease Connection / Are Diet
Sodas Bad for Your Health? / Ideal Breakfast for Diabetics /
Ideal Breakfast for Arthritis /Healing Foods Links / Foods
That Shrink Your Waist / Foods That Lower Cholesterol/
VLDL-The Other Cholesterol/ Foods That Reduce Blood
Pressure
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