Vitamin deficiency anemia

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Introduction Signs and symptoms Causes Risk factors

Screening and diagnosis Complications Treatment Prevention

Introduction

Your body needs vitamins — nutrients found in most foods — for many reasons, including producing healthy red blood cells. If your body is deficient in certain key vitamins, you can develop a type of anemia — a condition in which your blood is low on healthy red blood cells — called vitamin deficiency anemia.

Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body. Without enough healthy red blood cells, your body can't get the oxygen it needs to feel energized. To produce red blood cells, your body needs iron and certain vitamins along with adequate protein and calorie intake.

Vitamin deficiency anemia can also lead to other health problems. Fortunately, you can usually correct vitamin deficiency anemia with supplements and dietary changes.

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Signs and symptoms