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Risk Factors Associated With A Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency is a condition in which a patient does not have enough vitamin B12 in their blood. Even a mild deficiency in vitamin B12 affects an individual's quality of life, causing fatigue and mental fog. A more severe deficiency can lead to problems with heart and brain function. Some causes of vitamin B12 deficiencies are dietary, in which case the problem is easily solved through supplementation or a diet plan. Other causes are more insidious and include things like autoimmune diseases and parasitic infections. Usually, medical conditions that cause vitamin B12 deficiency involve problems with absorbing nutrients properly. Get to know what can increase an individual's risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency now.

Graves' Disease

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Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland. It causes hyperthyroidism, which negatively affects virtually every organ system in the body. This illness can deplete the body of many vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B12, by causing the organs to use up nutrients faster than they should. Autoimmune diseases, in general, are associated with a vitamin B12 deficiency. This disease is just one of many autoimmune diseases; others include lupus, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. If a patient has one autoimmune disease, they also have an increased risk of developing another autoimmune disease in the future. This heightens the risk of a vitamin B12 deficiency even more.

Keep reading to learn about the next risk factor for a deficiency in vitamin B12.

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