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

Hello,

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

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

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

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

There are some conditions where vitamin B12 deficiency can occur in a non-vegetarian, like worm infestation and pernicious anemia. In worm infestation, whatever we eat, the worms in our gut compete for the absorption of vitamin B 12.

Pernicious anemia is a condition where there is a defect in the absorption of vitamin B 12. In such a case, even with oral medication, vitamin B 12 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 in 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 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 vitamin B12 test after a month. If it is normal, then there is nothing to worry. If it is still low, then get an anti parietal cell antibody blood test done.

Same symptoms doesn’t mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Naresh Kumar M.

Experience: 12 + Yrs

Internal Medicine

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