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Giardiasis—A cause of vitamin B12 malabsorption

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Abstract

Three patients with giardiasis have been shown to have vitamin B12 malabsorption which returned to normal after eradication of the parasite. Radioactive vitamin B12 with sufficient amounts of biologically active intrinsic factor to exclude host intrinsic factor deficiency was administered. The subjects did not suffer from immunodeficiency states, and bacterial overgrowth did not appear to be a causative factor. The implications of this finding in relation to mechanisms of malabsorption in giardiasis are discussed. It is concluded that competition between parasite and host enterocyte is the most likely explanation for vitamin B12 malabsorption.

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Supported in part by a parttime Research Grant from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

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Cowen, A.E., Campbell, C.B. Giardiasis—A cause of vitamin B12 malabsorption. Digest Dis Sci 18, 384–390 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01071987

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