Can vitamin b12 deficiency be a sign of cancer

Vitamin B12 deficiency: common causes and symptoms, not so mysterious!

First of all, we have to understand what vitamin B12 is. To put it simply, it is like a “generalist” in our body. It plays an important role in hematopoiesis (that is, generating red blood cells, making you look good and not anemic), maintaining the health of the nervous system (making your hands and feet not numb, and thinking clearly).

So, why is B12 missing? In fact, there are many reasons, nothing more than these categories:

Not eating enough: The most typical are vegans, because B12 is mainly found in animal foods. If you are a vegetarian, then supplements are a real consideration.

Absorption is not good: this piece is more complicated. For example, after gastric surgery, pernicious anemia (the name sounds scary, but in fact the body cannot effectively absorb B12), Crohn’s disease, celiac disease and other intestinal problems will affect the absorption of B12.

Drug disruptions: Some commonly used drugs, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for stomach acid and metformin for diabetes, can also affect B12 absorption over the long term. Therefore, it is necessary for friends who take these drugs to check B12 levels regularly.

Other factors: like the elderly, decreased gastric acid secretion, decreased absorption capacity; long-term alcohol abuse, liver damage will also affect the metabolism of B12.

When B12 is not enough, the body will signal you. Common symptoms are: always feel tired, weak (fatigue, fatigue), sometimes dizzy, fast heartbeat, face may also be a little pale. Numbness and tingling are also common. More importantly, memory loss, emotional instability, and even tongue headaches (glossitis) may be hints of B12 deficiency. Anyway, these symptoms, don’t frighten yourself, quickly find a doctor to check.

B12 deficiency and cancer: is there a direct link?

This is the most important question, right? Does B12 deficiency mean that I have cancer? I can definitely tell you that the current research believes that B12 deficiency itself is not a direct “signal” or “cause” of cancer “. However, there are some indirect and complex connections between them, which we need to understand rationally:

Some cancers can cause B12 malabsorption: it’s like a “bad cause. For example, some stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer or small intestine tumors may affect the function of the gastrointestinal tract, causing the body to not absorb B12 normally, and then appear symptoms of B12 deficiency. In this case, B12 deficiency is a “concomitant phenomenon” of the cancer, rather than a cause of the cancer. So, if the cause of your B12 deficiency is unknown, your doctor may further investigate the digestive tract.

Some cancers, especially hematologic tumors, may be accompanied by abnormally elevated B12 levels: does this sound counter-intuitive? Not a lack, but rather a high level. Therefore, high levels of B12 also need to be paid attention to, it may also be a potential disease signal.

The impact of cancer treatment: We all know that cancer treatment is a “big project”. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery may affect the normal functions of the body, including the absorption and metabolism of B12. Therefore, it is possible that B12 levels are abnormal during or after treatment.”

Which B12 deficiency situation, we health science people will be a little “vigilant” about the risk of cancer?

When we talk about B12 deficiency, we usually think of anemia and neurological problems. But sometimes, if the lack of B12 appears a bit “unusual”, as doctors or health science workers, we will have more question marks in our hearts and suggest that we further investigate. This is not to scare everyone, but based on our understanding of the disease, we hope to achieve early detection and early intervention.

With other digestive tract “strange” symptoms: if you not only low B12, but also appear unexplained weight loss (not you deliberately lose weight oh!), persistent stomachache, sudden change in defecation habits (such as long-term constipation or diarrhea), or more importantly, gastrointestinal bleeding (visible to the naked eye or positive for fecal occult blood), it must be paid attention. These symptoms may indicate that there are some internal conditions in the digestive tract that we need to find out, and B12 deficiency may be just the tip of the iceberg.

B12 deficiency comes “without warning” and is serious: if you have a balanced diet, no gastrointestinal surgery, and are in good health, but your B12 level is “plummeting”, and it is very serious and cannot be explained by regular reasons (such as insufficient diet and malabsorption), then we have to be on guard. Is there any “thief” in the body quietly making trouble and affecting the absorption and utilization of B12?

“Worse” high-risk factors: If you have some family history (such as an elder in the family who has had gastric cancer), or if you are found to have Helicobacter pylori infection (this is a “high-risk molecule” for stomach disease and gastric cancer), and accompanied by B12 Deficiency, then doctors will be more cautious when evaluating, because these factors add up, they will indeed increase the risk of certain diseases.

Pernicious anemia this “old friend”: mention B12 deficiency, you have to mention “pernicious anemia”. It is not an ordinary anemia, it is because the body lacks a 1 internal factor, so that B12 can not be absorbed. Our years of clinical observation and research have found that patients with pernicious anemia are indeed one of the “potential companions” of gastric cancer, so if pernicious anemia is diagnosed, regular follow-up and stomach examination are necessary.

What should I do? When do I need to talk to the doctor?

Seeing this, you may be a little nervous, don’t worry, don’t panic! The purpose of our health science popularization is to let you understand knowledge, not to create anxiety. The vast majority of B12 deficiencies are not a big problem, but if there are those situations I mentioned earlier, or if you are “whispering” in your heart, the most important step is to find a doctor immediately!

If you find B12 deficiency, please remember the first thing is: make an appointment with your doctor instead of scaring yourself on the Internet. The doctor will help you find the real cause of B12 deficiency according to your specific situation. Self-diagnosis and treatment is the most recommend practice of our health science!

When you go to the doctor, please provide this “information” as much as possible “:

Symptoms: Tell me about your recent physical discomfort, such as fatigue, numbness, memory loss, or the aforementioned gastrointestinal symptoms.

Medical history: Any chronic diseases before? Have you ever had gastrointestinal surgery? Do you have a similar medical history in your family?

Medication: Have you taken any medicine recently? Some drugs can affect the absorption of B12.

Eating habits: Are you a vegetarian? Do you have a habit of partial eating?

The doctor may arrange “investigation” work for you:

Blood B12 level: This is the most direct indicator to see if B12 is low or not.

Blood routine: see if it is macrocytic anemia (a typical manifestation of B12 deficiency).

Autoantibody testing: If pernicious anemia is suspected, antibodies are checked.

Gastroscopy, colonoscopy, etc.: If the doctor feels it is necessary to further rule out digestive tract problems based on your situation, these tests may be recommended. Don’t be afraid, all this is to see the problem clearly.

Finally, be sure to “not panic”: I repeat 1, the vast majority of B12 deficiencies are not caused by cancer, it is often caused by insufficient diet or malabsorption. Let’s see a doctor to rule out those one in ten thousand serious cases, not to worry you too much. Believe doctors, they will give you the most appropriate advice and treatment plan according to professional judgment.

Vitamin B12 deficiency, how do we “prevent” and “treat”?

Knowing the risks and how to see a doctor, what can we do to avoid B12 deficiency? If there is already a deficiency, how can we make it up?

Daily diet is the “main battlefield”:

Meat eaters: all kinds of meat (pigs, cattle and sheep), fish (especially salmon, tuna), eggs and dairy products are the “big” of B12. A balanced diet can meet most of the needs.

Vegetarians/Vegans: Because B12 is mainly derived from animal foods, vegetarians, especially vegans, are indeed a “high risk group” for B12 deficiency “. You can consider eating more B12 fortified foods, such as fortified cereals, plant milk, nutritional yeast, etc.

Supplements are “reinforcements”:

If you have been diagnosed with a B12 deficiency by your doctor, or if you are in a high-risk group (such as strict vegetarians, the elderly, or patients after gastrointestinal surgery), your doctor may recommend that you take a B12 supplement.

Oral tablets are available and may require an injection if the malabsorption is severe. Remember, it must be used under the guidance of a doctor. Don’t blindly supplement it yourself. There are risks if you supplement it too much!

Regular monitoring is “patrols”:

Especially for people who have high-risk factors (such as pernicious anemia, a history of stomach surgery) or who are being treated for B12, it is important to visit the hospital regularly to monitor B12 levels. Only in this way can we adjust the treatment plan in time to ensure that the B12 level is maintained in the normal range and ensure the healthy operation of our body.