What it means
A water-soluble vitaminVY-tuh-minA substance the body needs in small amounts for normal growth and function, mostly from food.Full entry found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy foods. To absorb it from food, the stomach must make a protein called intrinsic factor, and the last part of the small bowel must be healthy. Too little causes a large-cell anemiauh-NEE-mee-uhA lower than normal number of red blood cells or amount of hemoglobin in the blood.a- without, lacking-emia blood conditionFull entry and nerve damage, with numbness, tingling and memory problems. People at risk include strict vegans, older adults, and people who have had stomach or bowel surgery or have pernicious anemiaper-NISH-us uh-NEE-mee-uhAn anemia from a lack of vitamin B12 because the stomach does not make intrinsic factor, a protein needed to absorb it.Full entry .
For the nurse
A client who cannot absorb it, such as one with pernicious anemia, needs it by injection (often monthly) or as a high-dose oral or nasal form, usually for life. Teach strict vegans to take a supplement.
At a glance
| Spanish | vitamina B12 |
|---|---|
| Also written | vitamin B-12, cobalamin |
Related terms
anemia
A lower than normal number of red blood cells or amount of hemoglobin in the blood.
vitamin
A substance the body needs in small amounts for normal growth and function, mostly from food.
folic acid
A B vitamin (vitamin B9) that the body needs to make DNA and red blood cells.
pernicious anemia
An anemia from a lack of vitamin B12 because the stomach does not make intrinsic factor, a protein needed to absorb it.