Alternative Names & Classifications:
Vitamin B12 Deficiency Anemia (CLINICAL)
Description
Autoantibodies ruthlessly destroy the parietal cells of the stomach, halting the vital production of intrinsic factor, a protein strictly required for B12 absorption. Without intrinsic factor, dietary B12 simply passes entirely through the digestive tract unabsorbed, severely impairing the biological synthesis of red blood cells and DNA. It affects older adults, causing devastating neurological damage if the vitamin deficiency is not rapidly corrected via injection.