How to cure megaloblastic anemia

The treatment for megaloblastic anemia should be done with vitamin B12 supplementation, as in this type of anemia, the levels of the vitamin are very low and prevent the normal production of red blood cells.

Thus, there is a reduction in hemoglobin in the blood, making it difficult to transport oxygen to the cells, which causes classic symptoms of anemia such as excessive tiredness, pallor or changes in intestinal transit, for example.

However, the way in which vitamin B12 supplementation is performed varies according to the type of megaloblastic anemia that can be harmful, which is when the body is unable to use vitamin B12 present in food, or because few foods rich in b12 vitamin.

Treatment for pernicious megaloblastic anemia

Pernicious megaloblastic anemia occurs because the body cannot absorb vitamin B12 ingested in the diet.

Thus, the treatment to cure megaloblastic anemia consists of taking injections of vitamin B12 directly into the vein until the levels of this vitamin in the body are balanced and the levels of hemoglobin in the blood are normalized.

However, to prevent this type of anemia from developing again, it may be recommended to take 6 to 8 vitamin B12 injections per year or to take vitamin B12 supplement tablets every day for 18 months, always according to medical advice.

Treatment for megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency

Megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in vegetarians and occurs due to low intake of foods rich in vitamin B12 such as liver steak, oysters or salmon.

Thus, the treatment of this type of anemia can last for about 1 month and is done with the intake of vitamin B12 supplements, purchased at pharmacies and taken once a week.

However, to ensure the definitive cure for anemia it is important to ensure regular intake of vitamin B12 rich foods. In the case of vegetarians, a good tip is to reinforce the diet with beer yeast, as it is very rich in vitamin B12 and is not of animal origin.

See other foods with vitamin B12 you can eat: Foods rich in vitamin B12.

Symptoms of megaloblastic anemia

The main symptoms of megaloblastic anemia include:

Excessive tiredness; Muscle pain; Loss of appetite with weight loss; Changes in intestinal transit, with diarrhea or constipation; Abdominal pain or nausea; Tingling in the hands or feet; Paleness;

When these symptoms appear, it is recommended to consult a general practitioner or a hematologist to do blood tests and assess the levels of hemoglobin in the blood, confirming or not the diagnosis of megaloblastic anemia.