[Food-cobalamin syndrome]

Presse Med. 2009 Jan;38(1):55-62. doi: 10.1016/j.lpm.2008.09.017. Epub 2008 Nov 5.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Food-cobalamin malabsorption is a new well-characterized syndrome. In association with pernicious anemia, it is the leading etiology of cobalamin deficiency in adult, especially in elderly patient. Currently, it is an exclusion diagnosis that requires a well-codified clinical strategy for diagnosis. There are several causes of food-cobalamin malabsorption, mainly gastric disorders and drugs (metformin and anti-acid drugs). Current treatment modality includes oral cobalamin administration with lower doses than in pernicious anemia. Studies are in the way to better characterize the food-cobalamin malabsorption in a clinical practice perspective and to validate the usefulness of oral cobalamin therapy.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anemia, Pernicious / diagnosis
  • Anemia, Pernicious / drug therapy
  • Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions
  • Food*
  • Food-Drug Interactions
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Absorption / physiology
  • Malabsorption Syndromes / complications*
  • Malabsorption Syndromes / diagnosis
  • Malabsorption Syndromes / drug therapy
  • Syndrome
  • Vitamin B 12 / metabolism*
  • Vitamin B 12 / therapeutic use
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / diagnosis
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / drug therapy
  • Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / etiology
  • Vitamin B Complex / metabolism*
  • Vitamin B Complex / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vitamin B Complex
  • Vitamin B 12