Cobalamin deficiency in the elderly: Aetiology and management. A study of 125 patients in a geriatric hospital

Abstract

Our study showed the importance of food-cobalamin malabsorption in etiological diagnosis in accordance with the literature, but also the non-negligible share of nutritional cobalamin deficiency. Mainly oral cobalamin supplementation was used in our study with a significant increase in vitamin B12 levels. An oral cobalamin regimen is proposed for elderly patients with cobalamin deficiency but with no severe neurological signs.

Long-Term Nutritional Outcomes of Near-Total Gastrectomy in Gastric Cancer Treatment: a Comparison with Total Gastrectomy Using Propensity Score Matching Analysis

“…From a nutritional perspective, cobalamin deficiency anemia could easily occur after TG, because intrinsic factors are markedly decreased by the removal of parietal cells [ 21 ]. A cobalamin deficiency could cause not only anemia but also fatigue, depression, or headache [ 22 ]. Moreover, hormones such as ghrelin and gastrin would be removed after gastrectomy [ 23 24 ].…”

Food-Cobalamin Malabsorption: A Controversial Etiology of Symptomatic Vitamin B12 Deficiency

“…Thanks to progress made during the last 15 years in the understanding of cobalamin metabolism, new physiopathological concepts have emerged, including a new medical concept: the "food-cobalamin malabsorption" [2]. This new clinical syndrome was found to be the leading cause of symptomatic cobalamin deficiency in a number of recently published series [3][4][5]. However, controversies persist in the scientific literature about his real involvement in severe cobalamin deficiency.…”

Evaluation of liposomal B12 supplementation in a case series study

“…According to Couderc, et al [6]oral cobalamin supplementation was used in their study with a significant increase in vitamin B12 levels. An oral cobalamin regimen is proposed for elderly patients with cobalamin deficiency but with no severe neurological signs.…”

“…An oral cobalamin regimen is proposed for elderly patients with cobalamin deficiency but with no severe neurological signs. Pernicious anemia, also known as vitamin B12 deficiency, is defined by two factors that are detected during blood tests and it occurs, when a person lacks the intrinsic agent and cannot absorb B12 [6]. It is the most common cause of malignant anemia and is defined as an autoimmune reaction that attacks and destroys those cells of the stomach that produce the endogenous factor.…”

“…fragile nails, dark circles, changes in behavior, rapid heartbeat, disorder of reflexes, muscle weakness, neuropathic pain, loss of vision, reduction of cognitive capacity, changes in memory, depression and confusion [6][7][8][9][10]. The absorption of vitamin B12 is a complex process, subject to various problems, in many places.…”