VITAMIN B12; the anti-pernicious anaemia factor.

Abstract

Anaemia is a disease characterised by a reduction in the number of red cells in the blood, or in the amount of the iron‐containing red pigment, haemoglobin. Various types of anaemia are known, thus macrocytic anaemia is the name given to the condition when there is an increase in the average size of the red cells in the blood. It is now known that two vitamins, viz. folic acid and vitamin B12, are involved in the prevention of some anaemias.