Sign in  |  Register

Illustrated Health Encyclopedia
[an error occurred while processing this directive]

Ency. home > Disease > L > Lack of intrinsic factor

Lack of intrinsic factor   

Overview

Alternative names:

Addisonian (juvenile) lack of intrinsic factor; Congenital lack of intrinsic factor

Definition:

An absence of a natural substance normally present in the stomach and essential to the digestion of vitamin B-12. Lack of intrinsic factor leads to pernicious anemia and vitamin B-12 deficiency.

Congenital lack of intrinsic factor causes inadequate absorption of vitamin B-12 starting around 6 months of age, while the juvenile type tends to manifest itself at an age greater than 10 years. There is an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern suggested in the congenital form.

Ency. home > Disease > L > Lack of intrinsic factor

[an error occurred while processing this directive]