D51.3: Other dietary vitamin B deficiency anaemia

You don’t have enough vitamin B12 in your body. This means you don’t have enough haemoglobin in your blood.

Vitamins are substances the body needs for many tasks. The body is unable produce most vitamins by itself. These vitamins must be taken in through food. You are not getting enough vitamin B12 from your diet. Vitamin B12 is mainly found in animal products.

Blood is made up of a liquid part and different blood cells, among other things. The blood cells include the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the platelets. The red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs throughout the body.

Red blood cells contain the red hemoglobin that gives blood its color. This pigment is important for carrying oxygen in the blood. Haemoglobin needs various nutrients to be formed. These nutrients include, for example, various proteins, vitamins and iron.

You don’t have enough haemoglobin because you don’t have enough vitamin B12 in your body. If you don’t have enough haemoglobin, then the body can no longer transport as much oxygen. This can mean you’re exhausted more quickly or you have difficulty breathing. The nerves also need vitamin B12 to be able to work properly.