Symptoms, causes and treatments associated with Vitamin deficiency Anemia

By: Austin Wilson | Jul 20 2013 | 554 words | 2891 hits

Vitamin deficiency anemia is a lack of healthy red blood cells caused by lower-than-normal amounts of certain vitamins. The vitamins linked to it, include folate, vitamin B-12 and vitamin C. It can occur if you don't eat enough folate, vitamin B-12 or vitamin C or if your body has trouble absorbing or processing these vitamins. The lack of red blood cells caused by this deficiency can cause weakness and shortness of breath. It can usually be corrected with vitamin supplements and changes to your diet.

Symptoms:
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Pale or yellowish skin
• Swollen tongue and it may appear dark red
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea
• Numbness in your hands and feet
• Muscle weakness
• Irritability
• Unsteady movements
• Mental confusion or forgetfulness

Causes:

Vitamin deficiency anemia occurs when your body doesn't have enough of the vitamins needed to produce adequate numbers of healthy red blood cells. RBCs carry oxygen from your lungs throughout your body. Due to lack of certain vitamins, vitamin deficiency anemia can be developed. Or it may develop because your body can't properly absorb the nutrients from the foods you eat.

• Folate deficiency anemia: Folate (vitamin B-9) is a nutrient found mainly in leafy green vegetables and fruits. A diet consistently lacking in these foods can lead to a deficiency.

• Vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia (pernicious anemia): Vitamin B-12 deficiency can result from a diet lacking in vitamin B-12, which is found mainly in eggs, meat, and milk. This deficiency can also occur if your small intestine can't absorb vitamin B-12.

• Vitamin C deficiency anemia: This deficiency can develop if you don't get enough vitamin C from the foods you eat. It is also possible if something impairs your ability to absorb vitamin C from food. For instance, smoking damages your body's ability to absorb vitamin C.

Treatment:

Treatment includes change in supplements and diet. It includes the following deficiency:

• Folate deficiency anemia. Treatment involves eating a healthy diet and taking folic acid supplements as prescribed by your doctor. In most of the cases, folic acid supplements are taken orally. You may be able to stop taking the supplements after your body's level of folate increases to normal. But if the cause of your folate deficiency cannot be corrected, you may need to take supplements of folic acid for whole life time.

• Vitamin B-12 deficiency anemia (pernicious anemia). For cases which are not severe, treatment may involve changes to your diet and vitamin B-12 supplements in pill form or as a nasal spray. In severe cases, you may receive vitamin B-12 injections

• Vitamin C deficiency anemia. Treatment for anemia related to vitamin C deficiency is with vitamin C tablets. Additionally, you also need to increase your intake of foods and beverages that contain vitamin C.

Prevention:

Choose a healthy diet

You can prevent some forms of vitamin deficiency anemias by choosing a healthy diet that includes a variety of foods.

Foods rich in folate include:
• Dark green leafy vegetables
• Dried beans and peas
• Cereal, bread, rice and pasta.
• Fruits and fruit juices

Foods rich in vitamin B-12 include:

• Eggs
• Fortified foods, such as breakfast cereals
• Milk, cheese and yogurt
• Red and white meats and shellfish

Foods rich in vitamin C include:

• Broccoli
• Citrus fruits and juices
• Strawberries
• Sweet peppers
• Tomatoes

Daily dietary amounts for most of the adults:

• Vitamin B-12, 2.4 micrograms (mcg)
• Folate or folic acid, 400 mcg
• Vitamin C, 75 to 90 milligram

 

About author:
Austin Wilson is the author of this article, He is working as a Free Lancer for various online health care pharmacies, he is currently working with Royalpharmacyrx.com. He is committed to provide information about Kamagra Online, Purchase Cheap Kamagra Fizz Online, Silagra, Order Kamagra Jelly Online, Weight Loss, Antibiotic, and many more.