Pernicious anemia: Year of the Zebra

Every new year, countless people take on the resolution of eating a healthier, more balanced diet. What if no matter how much effort you put into eating well, your body could not reap the benefit? In Pernicious Anemia, the body produces auto-antibodies against a stomach protein called Intrinsic Factor. Intrinsic factor is crucial for the absorption of vitamin B12. This will result in a B12 deficiency that cannot be resolved efficiently through oral intake. B12 deficiency will impair the production of red blood cells, causing anemia and its related symptoms such as fatigue and pale skin. Moreover, B12 deficiency can affect the nervous system to cause numbness and tingling of the extremities as well as mood changes. The nervous system effects may become permanent despite treatment in case of a prolonged delay. To find out more about this high yield topic, watch the above video.