Anemia and Vitamin Deficiencies
Anemia is a condition in which red blood cells are not produced or are destroyed rapidly. As a result, the body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, dizziness, and fainting.
Anemia can develop due to iron or vitamin deficiencies such as B-12 or folic acid. Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of anemia. It occurs when a person’s body doesn’t get enough iron from their diet or through normal bodily functions such as menstruation and childbirth (in women).
Vitamin B-12 and folate (folic acid) deficiencies may also cause anemia because these vitamins help grow new red blood cells in the bone marrow. For instance, if a person has pernicious anemia, a type of anemia caused by low levels of intrinsic factor, they won’t be able to absorb vitamin B-12 from food properly.
