I have to take injections every other month or so, I do not have the "intrinsic factor." Dr. Sidney L. Davis, Jr. -----Original Message----- From: Carol <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Sunday, January 17, 1999 11:50 AM Subject: Re: B12 Deficiency - what do I do? >Roberta Leong wrote, in part: > >> B12 deficiency ("pernicious anemia") will cause serious problems >> if not addressed. > >True, but pernicious anemia is only a type of B12 deficiency; they >are not the same thing. If you have pernicious anemia, you could >take all the B12 pills and flesh foods you want, but they wouldn't >help. That is because pernicious anemia is caused by a lack of the >mysterious-sounding "intrinsic factor" which is a substance secreted >by the parietal cells of the stomach and which is required for >absorption of dietary B12. > >However, B12 deficiency can also be caused by a long-standing >imbalance of the resident bacteria of the GI tract. Some bacteria >make B12; others use it up. > >You can find out if what you have is pernicious anemia or plain ol' >B12 deficiency by taking what is called a Schilling test. It tests >your body's ability to absorb B12. > >Good luck! > >Carol