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Diseases » Vitamin B12 Deficiency » Glossary

Glossary for Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Alzheimer's Disease: Dementia-causing brain disease mostly in seniors and the elderly.
Anemia: Reduced ability of blood to carry oxygen from various possible causes.
Anisocytosis: Variation in red blood cell size, commonly seen in anaemia
Ataxia: It is a neurological sign and symptom consisting of gross lack of co-ordination of muscle movements.
Bipolar disorder/cyclothymic disorder/hypomania:
Blind loop syndrome: A rare intestinal defect where there is a small loop in the intestines that allow digesting material to enter but not exit. The symptoms are variable depending on the size and location of the pouch.
Bothriocephalosis: Infection with an intestinal parasite. The parasite is a fish tapeworm called Diphyllobothrium latum. Human infection is caused by eating undercooked contaminated fish.
Brain symptoms: Symptoms affecting the brain
Crohn's disease: Crohn's disease causes inflammation of the digestive system. It is one of a group of diseases called inflammatory bowel disease. The disease can affect any area from the mouth to the anus. It often affects the lower part of the small intestine called the ileum.
Dementia: Various mental impairment conditions.
Depression: Various syndromes with excessive anxiety, phobias, or fear.
Folate deficiency: Inadequate consumption of folic acid to meet the body's needs. Folic acid is a naturally occurring vitamin found in green leafy vegetables, liver, yeast and mushrooms. Alcohol and excessive cooking can affect folic acid absorption. Some medications may also cause folic acid deficiency. Folate deficiency during pregnancy can result in neural tube defects in the infant.
Folic Acid Deficiency - Teratogenic Agent: There is evidence to indicate that a deficiency of Folic Acid during pregnancy may have a teratogenic effect on the fetus. A teratogen is a substance that can cause birth defects. The likelihood and severity of defects may be affected by the level of exposure and the stage of pregnancy that the exposure occurred at.
Intrinsic factor, congenital deficiency of: A very rare disorder where a deficiency of a protein called intrinsic factor prevents vitamin B12 from being absorbed from the stomach. Thus, vitamin B12 deficiency occurs which leads to anemia.
Macrocytic anemia: Macrocytic anemia is a blood disorder where the red blood cells are larger than normal but have low levels of haemoglobin which is needed to carry oxygen throughout the body. The condition usually results from a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folate, digestive problems, malabsorption and certain medications which affect folic acid levels. Various rare inherited disorders may also result in macrocytic anemia e.g. Lesch-Nyhan syndrome. Severity and range of symptom may vary depending on the underlying condition.
Malabsorption: Failure to digest nutrients properly
Multiple Sclerosis: Autoimmune attack on spinal nerves causing diverse and varying neural problems.
Myelodysplastic syndromes: A group of syndromes characterized by a disruption in the production of blood cells. Often the bone marrow increases production of various blood cells but because many of them are defective, they are destroyed before the reach the blood stream.
Nerve symptoms: Symptoms affecting the nerves
Neurological symptoms: Any symptoms that are caused by neurological conditions
Ophthalmoplegia: A disorder that is characterised by the paralysis of the eye muscles
Optic atrophy: Dysfunction of the optic nerve which results in impaired vision. The disorder may be congenital or acquired. The rate and degree of atrophy is greatly variable depending on the cause.
Peripheral neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy is the term for damage to nerves of the peripheral nervous system, which may be caused either by diseases of the nerve or from the side-effects of systemic illness.
Pernicious anemia: Pernicious anemia is a blood disorder where the body is unable to use it properly use Vitamin B12 to make red blood cells.
Poor appetite: Loss or reduction in appetite for food
Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord: Gradual spinal cord degeneration
Vitamin B deficiency: When there is a deficiency of vitamin B in the body
Vitamin B12 Deficiency: A deficiency of Vitamin B12 primarily causes anemias the body is unable to make sufficient quantities of normal red blood cells. Severe cases can lead to permanent nervous system problems. The vitamin B12 deficiency can result from absorption problems, insufficient dietary intake, certain medications (e.g. metformin), inherited conditions (e.g. transcobalamin deficiency) and certain chronic parasitic intestinal infestations.
Vitamin deficiency: When there is any deficiency of vitamins in the body