What are the causes of vitamin B12 deficiency in a non-vegetarian?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Having vitamin B12 deficiency in a non-vegetarian is unlikely.

1. Why did you get your vitamin B12 levels checked?
2. What is your hemoglobin level?
3. Do you drink alcohol?

You can use the Nervijen capsule (a combination of Benfotiamine, Folic acid, Methylcobalamin, Nicotinamide, and Pyridoxine hydrochloride) safely.

I hope it helps.

Thank you.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

There are some conditions where vitamin B12 deficiency can occur in a non-vegetarian, such as worm infestation and pernicious anemia. In worm infestation, whatever we eat, the worms in our gut compete for the absorption of vitamin B12.

Pernicious anemia is a condition where there is a defect in the absorption of vitamin B12. In such a case, even with oral medication, vitamin B12 levels may not improve, as that also needs to go through the same absorption pathway.

For a confirmatory diagnosis of pernicious anemia, we need to do an upper GI (gastrointestinal) endoscopy and take a gastric biopsy to look for atrophic gastritis.

Several noninvasive tests, like anti-parietal cell antibodies, are recently available on the market. But these have lower sensitivity and specificity compared to endoscopy and biopsy.

I would suggest you try taking the following medicines. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss it with him or her, and start taking the medicines after their consent.

1. Tablet Zentel (Albendazole) 400 mg for three days at bedtime, which is a deworming agent.
2. Capsule Nervijen for one month.
3. Repeat the vitamin B12 test after a month. If it is normal, then there is nothing to worry about. If it is still low, then get an anti-parietal cell antibody blood test done.

I hope it helps.

Thank you.