A patient has pernicious anemia and asks the healthcare professional to explain the disease. Which statement by the professional is most accurate?
A)The lack of certain foods in your diet
B)Your body cannot absorb vitamin B₁₂.
C)You are not getting enough vitamin C.
D)Your bone marrow has stopped working.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Dietary vitamin B₁₂ is a large molecule that requires a protein secreted by parietal cells in the stomach (intrinsic factor [IF]) to transport across the ileum. Defects in IF production lead to decreased B₁₂ absorption and pernicious anemia. A lack of certain foods (i.e., meat) might lead to iron-deficiency anemia. Vitamin C lack would not lead to anemia, but in a severe state could lead to scurvy. If the bone marrow had totally failed, that would be termed aplastic anemia.

A Patient Has Pernicious Anemia and Asks the Healthcare Professional