Tag: Atrophic gastritis

While often overlooked, low stomach acid, or hypochlorhydria, is a surprisingly common condition, especially among older adults and those with chronic health issues. This can trigger a cascade of nutrient deficiencies, primarily impacting vitamin B12 absorption.

Chronic inflammation associated with atrophic gastritis can be significantly impacted by dietary choices. A focused diet plan incorporating low-acid, anti-inflammatory foods is a cornerstone of managing symptoms and protecting the stomach lining. Understanding what foods are good for atrophic gastritis is the first step toward finding relief and long-term digestive comfort.

According to the National Institutes of Health, pernicious anemia is a relatively rare autoimmune disorder that diminishes dietary vitamin B12 absorption. The main cause of pernicious anemia is an autoimmune attack on the stomach's cells, leading to intrinsic factor deficiency and subsequent B12 malabsorption.

Up to 2% of people over the age of 60 have pernicious anemia, a condition where individuals often do not have intrinsic factors. This vital protein, produced in the stomach, is necessary for absorbing vitamin B12 and its absence can have serious health consequences.

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder worldwide. While diet plays a crucial role, a number of underlying diseases can severely impact your body's ability to absorb this vital mineral, even with adequate intake, causing you to not absorb iron effectively. This malabsorption can lead to iron-deficiency anemia and other health complications.

Affecting about 0.1% of the general population, the mechanism of pernicious anemia centers on an autoimmune attack that impairs vitamin B12 absorption due to the body's inability to produce intrinsic factor. This disruption is a complex process with significant systemic consequences.

According to a study published in *The Journal of the American Medical Association*, the long-term use of certain heartburn medications is significantly associated with an increased risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. This fact points to a surprising, often misunderstood, relationship between heartburn and B12 levels.

Approximately 20% of adults over 60 have vitamin B12 deficiency, often due to conditions like atrophic gastritis. This leads many to question if the deficiency itself can cause metaplasia, a cellular change, and the answer involves understanding the distinction between cause and consequence.

According to the NIH, stores of vitamin B12 in the body can last up to five years, but a deficiency can still develop if the vitamin cannot be absorbed correctly. Understanding why someone might not be able to absorb vitamin B12 is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment.

While 80-90% of vitamin B12 in supplements is consumed by bacteria in the human gut, various other factors prevent the body from properly absorbing B vitamins from both food and supplements. This critical nuance is why simply eating fortified foods or taking a vitamin may not always solve a deficiency, and understanding what causes poor absorption of B vitamins is essential for effective treatment.