intrinsic-factor and Alcoholism

This monograph on the clinical chemistry of vitamin B12 reviews the literature on daily requirements, methods for measurement, the effects of drugs on vitamin B12 metabolism absorption, pregnancy, clinical conditions associated with vitamin B12 deficiency, errors of metabolism, and reactions to vitamin therapy. Although only very small quantities of vitamin B12 are required to satisfy the daily requirement, a sufficient supply is stored in the liver to meet normal requirements for at least a 3-year period. A number of drugs are known to affect the absorption of vitamin B12, including neomycin, potassium chloride, p-aminosalicylic acid, and colchicine. Significantly reduced serum concentrations of vitamin B12 have been noted in users of oral contraceptives (OCs), although concentrations still remain within the limits of normal. It appears that the vitamin B12 level in OC users reestablishes itself at a different and somewhat lower level. Vitamin B12 binding protein appears to remain unchanged. A vitamin B12 deficiency is unusual in pregnant women who consume a normal, varied diet. On the other hand, lactating women whose diets are low in animal protein and dairy products may have problems providing enough vitamin B12 to meet their own and their infant's needs; supplementary oral vitamins should be considered.

Topics: Absorption; Adult; Alcoholism; Anemia, Pernicious; Ascorbic Acid; Autoantibodies; Biguanides; Biological Transport; Chemical Phenomena; Chemistry; Chlorpromazine; Contraceptives, Oral; Diet; Female; Gastrectomy; Gastritis; Humans; Intrinsic Factor; Malabsorption Syndromes; Male; Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Nervous System Diseases; Nitrous Oxide; Nutritional Requirements; Pancreatic Diseases; Parasitic Diseases; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Transcobalamins; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency

Topics: Alcoholism; Anemia, Hypochromic; Anemia, Macrocytic; Anemia, Pernicious; Diagnosis, Differential; Folic Acid; Folic Acid Antagonists; Folic Acid Deficiency; Humans; Intestinal Absorption; Intrinsic Factor; Malabsorption Syndromes; Pyrimidine Nucleotides; Thymine Nucleotides; Uracil Nucleotides; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency

Topics: Alcoholism; Celiac Disease; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency; Folic Acid; Folic Acid Deficiency; Gastric Mucosa; Glutamates; Humans; Ileum; Intestinal Absorption; Intrinsic Factor; Malabsorption Syndromes; Protein Binding; Transcobalamins; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency

Topics: Adult; Alcoholism; Biological Transport, Active; Chronic Disease; Cobalt Radioisotopes; Diet Therapy; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Ethanol; Humans; Intestinal Absorption; Intestine, Small; Intrinsic Factor; Lipid Metabolism; Malabsorption Syndromes; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Disorders; Pancreatin; Vitamin B 12; Vitamins; Xylose

One hundred fifty alcoholic men and women and 150 age and sex-matched nonalcoholic controls (after exclusion of pernicious anemia and cancer of the stomach) were evaluated for the presence of parietal cell antibodies (PCA). Blocking and binding intrinsic factor antibodies (IFA) were determined in the PCA positive sera. The prevalence and age and sex distribution of PCA in the alcoholics and nonalcoholics was identical. In alcoholics above the age of 60 years, the incidence of PCA, although higher than in those of the younger age group was similar to that in the nonalcoholics of the same age group (in men 6.3 percent and 7.3 percent and in women 7.5 percent and 10.0 percent respectively). Antral gastritis of moderate or severe degree was the frequent lesion in alcoholics. This form of gastritis was not associated with any significant increase in the incidence of PCA. No patients with sera positive for IFA were detected among the 22 PCA positive patients. There is no evidence for humoral derangement of the gastric autoimmunity in chronic alcoholics.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Alcoholism; Antibodies; Autoantibodies; Biopsy; Female; Gastric Mucosa; Gastritis; Humans; Intrinsic Factor; Male; Middle Aged

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Alcoholism; Anemia, Pernicious; Diagnostic Errors; Female; Folic Acid; Humans; Intrinsic Factor; Malabsorption Syndromes; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency