Injections of Vitamin B12 are Used Successfully to Treat _____

Question

Injections of vitamin B12 are used successfully to treat _____ anemia.
A) aplastic
B) pernicious
C) hemorrhagic
D) hemolytic

Accepted Answer

Pernicious anemia is caused by a lack of intrinsic factor, a protein produced by the stomach that is necessary for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestine. Injections of vitamin B12 bypass the need for intrinsic factor and can effectively treat the anemia. Aplastic anemia is caused by a failure of the bone marrow to produce enough blood cells, and injections of vitamin B12 would not address this problem. Hemorrhagic anemia is caused by excessive bleeding, and hemolytic anemia is caused by the destruction of red blood cells, neither of which would be treated by injections of vitamin B12.