Long known as the âsunshine vitaminâ because the body makes it when skin is exposed to sunlight, vitamin D might now be dubbed the âsuperstar vitamin,â judging by the amount of attention it has garnered of late from researchers and the general public.
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be caused by many factors, one of which is pernicious anemia, a condition resulting in deficient production of intrinsic factor in the parietal cells of the stomach. Intrinsic factor is a protein that is needed to assist in the absorption of vitamin B12 into the small intestine.
One way pernicious anemia can develop is by loss of gastric parietal cells, which are responsible, in part, for the secretion of intrinsic factor, a protein essential for subsequent absorption of vitamin B 12 in the ileum.ernicious anemia presents insidiously, meaning that it slowly and subtly causes harm. Many of the signs and symptoms are due to anemia itself, where anemia is present. Untreated pernicious anemia can lead to neurological complications, and in serious cases, death.