What are the causes of megaloblastic anemia?

Megaloblastic anemia, also known as macrocytic anemia, is mainly caused by a lack of vitamins and folic acid. There are many causes of megaloblastic anemia, including nutritional megaloblastic anemia, which is anemia caused by poor dietary quality.

1. Nutritional megaloblastic anemia

Poor dietary quality is the most common cause of the disease. Long-term lack of fresh vegetables or meat and eggs leads to vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency is relatively rare because vitamin B12 absorption occurs through the enterohepatic cycle. Even vegans (those who do not eat any food from animal sources) may take several years to show signs of vitamin B12 deficiency.

2. After gastrectomy

After gastric cancer or gastric ulcer resection, the secretion of intrinsic gastric factor may be insufficient. Long-term deficiency will affect the absorption of vitamin B12 and cause illness. Since gastrectomy affects iron absorption, iron deficiency anemia is often present. The clinical symptoms of nutritional megaloblastic anemia and anemia after gastrectomy are more prominent in digestive system symptoms and anemia symptoms. May be complicated by anemic heart disease. There is often atrophy of the lingual papillae and other manifestations of vitamin deficiency, but no deep sensory abnormalities or neuropathic reflexes.

3. Folic acid and vitamin deficiency

Anemia caused by deficiency of folic acid, vitamin B12 (VitB12) or certain drugs affecting nucleotide metabolism leading to impaired synthesis of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in the nucleus is called megaloblastic anemia.

anemia, MA). In my country, people with folic acid deficiency are mostly found in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan and other places where people eat less fresh vegetables and meat. In Europe and the United States, VitB12 deficiency or intrinsic factor antibodies are common.