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Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Meaning

A clinical condition characterized by insufficient levels of cobalamin (Vitamin B12), an essential micronutrient required for DNA synthesis, red blood cell formation, and the maintenance of the central and peripheral nervous systems. This deficiency often results in megaloblastic anemia and can lead to severe, irreversible neurological symptoms if left untreated. Clinical diagnosis requires measuring serum B12 and often methylmalonic acid (MMA) and homocysteine levels, which are functional markers of its metabolic impact and severity.