anaemia Archives

March 7, 2024 By Dr. Viral Thakkar 10 Comments

Vitamin B12: The Energy Nutrient many of you should be thinking about!

As a medical practitioner, I am appalled by the number of patients suffering from B₁₂ deficiency. Patients complain about fatigue, vague pains, tingling, numbness, loss of concentration. Many tests are conducted with no results and the one missed is the test for vitamin B_12.Vitamin B₁₂ is the only vitamin that contains a trace element – cobalt – which gives this vitamin its chemical name – cobalamin – which is at the centre of its molecular structure.

B₁₂ is required

For the manufacture of red blood cells; deficiency leads to a characteristic kind of anemia
To support the normal function of nerve cells, and to manufacture myelin, the insulating material that surrounds some of our nerve cells and speeds neural transmission. B₁₂ deficiency impairs brain function. Advanced B₁₂ deficiency causes dementia resembling Alzheimer’s.
The deficiency leads to difficulty in regeneration of new healthy cells- mimics all of the effects of aging.
B₁₂ is involved in the metabolism of every cell of the human body, especially affecting DNA synthesis, fatty acid and amino acid metabolism.

Vitamin B₁₂ is produced by some species of bacteria in colon. The colon is followed by the small intestine & is a part of large intestine and hence the B₁₂ produced there is not absorbed which results in the need of supplementation.

Who should be concerned about B₁₂deficiency?

If you are or were a vegetarians / a vegan – get yourself tested
Babies born to mothers who are vegetarians
Risk of B₁₂ deficiency increases with age. So test yourself and fortify your meals
Pernicious anaemia – is an autoimmune condition that affects your stomach. In your stomach, Vitamin B₁₂is combined with a protein called intrinsic factor. This mix of Vitamin B₁₂ and intrinsic factor is then absorbed into the body in part of the gut called the distal ileum. Pernicious anaemia causes your immune system to attack the cells in your stomach that produce the intrinsic factor, which means your body is unable to absorb Vitamin B₁₂.
Conditions affecting your intestines – E.g. Crohn’s disease (a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the digestive system)
Some types of medicine – E.g. proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) –a medication sometimes used to treat indigestion – can make a Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency worse.
People suffering from Atrophic Gastritis (the stomach line becomes thin)
Surgery where a part of the stomach is removed, including weight loss surgery like bariatric surgery.
Smoking, drinking & stress increases the requirement of B₁₂
Few autoimmune disorders
Chronic illnesses leads to a deficiency of this diseases

Move towards a B₁₂ rich diet if you have the following symptoms

Weakness, tiredness, dizziness or lightheadedness
Smooth tongue
Palpitations and dyspnea
Pale skin
Constipation, diarrhea, a loss of appetite, or dyspepsia
Nerve problems – numbness or tingling, muscle weakness,
Loss of weight
Mental problems – memory loss, or behavioral changes, confusions
Glove & stocking neuropathy (tingling of palms & forearms, feet till knees) – in this scenario B₁₂ deficiency is the majorly deficient apart from other nutrients

Sources of B12

Sources of B₁₂are animal products (meat, fish, and dairy products), fortified foods. Ensure sufficient quantities of these foods to maintain your B₁₂ levels. If your count is low, consider oral or injectable forms of the vitamin. But why reach that stage?

Have the above mentioned foods in your routine. The best part of this Energy Nutrient is that the excess is excreted by the body or stored in the liver for use when supplies are scarce. Stores of B₁₂ can last for up to a year. Unfortunately sometimes catching the B₁₂deficiency late can result in permanent damage. Any neurological damage due to B₁₂ deficiency cannot be reversed. Ensure that your B₁₂ levels are maintained at levels 200 to 900 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL).

#BeTheForce

January 23, 2018 By Dr. Viral Thakkar 74 Comments

Hair loss: Causes and Prevention

Everyone loves a beautiful mane, be it, men or women. You could be having hair fall due to androgenic or non-androgenic causes. Androgenic causes are genetic in nature. Take Andre Agassi for instance, who starts losing his hair as early as when he was 19 and soon after, endorsed the ‘baldness’ proudly! If the causes of your hair fall are androgenic, it is best to accept your hair as they are! In case if your hair fall is due to a disease, it might continue with the disease or even after the disease is cured. A lot depends on the way you have treated the disease and the capacity of your body to jump back to a healthy state. Some of the diseases which lead to hair loss are Lupus, thyroid problems, cancer, muscular dystrophy or any severe chronic illness.

hairfall image 1

Prevent Hair Loss

Nothing beats the intake of nutritious foods & regular exercise– Make sure you are consuming enough proteins in your diet as these are the building blocks of tissues and hair. You can include milk, egg whites, pulses and fish; use Omega-3 fatty acids—such as salmon and mackerel— or sprinkle a tablespoon or two of freshly ground flaxseed on to salads or cereal each day.

2. Vitamin A is crucial for healthy hair because it works with the fat synthesis. Food products rich in vitamin A include leafy greens, carrots, eggs and cow’s ghee.

3. Vitamin B12 creates red blood cells, which ultimately provides more oxygen to your body! Eggs, milk, cheese, milk products, meat, fish, shellfish and poultry. Some soy and rice beverages, as well as soy-based meat substitutes, are fortified with vitamin B12.

4. Vitamin C and Iron are good for your hair. Lemon a top source of Vitamin C goes great with iron-rich foods such as spinach, quinoa, chia seeds, lentils, oatmeal, spirulina, soybeans and tomato paste. Oranges, strawberries, sweet potatoes, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, almost all leafy greens, apples, limes, broccoli, papaya, pineapple, gooseberries, and kiwi are also all great sources of Vitamin C.

5. Vitamin E also encourages circulation in the body and helps grow new blood vessels, which helps hair to grow. Almonds, sweet potatoes, spinach, peanuts amongst others.

Some of the most important minerals for hair health are — calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc which are found in vegetables and fruits.

Regular exercise allows sweat to clean out and unclog your hair pores. The exercise will also make you healthier overall which will help you grow longer, stronger locks.

Stay hydrated. The hair shaft itself is largely made up of water. Drink 8-10 glasses of water every day, along with fruits and juices.

Check if you have a hormonal imbalance. If you do, look into natural supplements for hormone regulation and foods that promote healthy hormone levels.

Health conditions which might lead to hair loss include stress, thyroid disease, anaemia, and medications for heart disease. Read the article on basic tests which you must consider.

Break your habit of smoking. Apart from a number of diseases, it reduces circulation, and this includes blood flow to the scalp. Drinking alcohol and caffeine hampers the immune system and cause further hair fallout.

Oil Scalp Massages stimulate the hair follicles to increase hair growth! Take any natural oil – olive, coconut, almond and massage gently into your scalp. Leave it for ½ hr to 1 hour and wash.

Home remedies: Unless sure, avoid the use of chemical treatments on your hair. Use shikakai soap at least once a week instead of shampoo with aloe vera pulp/curd. Instead of hair gels- use a pinch of brihangraj or coconut oil to settle your hair.

If you have dandruff/ itchy scalp, massage neem oil to your scalp, keep it for 1 hour before rinsing with shikakai soap. Repeat every week till you see an improvement. (if your scalp is sensitive, then neem oil may be diluted with an equal amount of coconut oil to prevent irritation). Neem is antibacterial and antifungal and works wonders for your scalp. Above all, listen to what your hair is telling you. All the treatments, even though natural might not suit your skin type. So try and find what suits you best and use it.

Use henna, to colour your hair if it suits your skin. In case if you use hair colours ensure to hydrate your skin post the treatment. The above remedies would suffice.

Yoga and Pranayam: Lazy bums out there should never give up on yoga and pranayamas they promote an overall wellbeing. While the below-given asanas aid hair growth, these are also beneficial numerous other body functions.

Adho Mukha Savasana (downward dog pose)

downward dog pose