Vitamin B12 deficiency can occur even if you eat meat due to several reasons:
Absorption Issues: Vitamin B12 requires a healthy digestive system for absorption. Conditions like gastritis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Celiac disease, or Crohn’s disease can interfere with the absorption of B12 in the intestines.
Aging: As people age, the stomach produces less gastric acid, which is necessary to release B12 from food. This can result in malabsorption even in those consuming adequate B12.
Medications: Certain medications, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), antacids, or metformin, can reduce B12 absorption by affecting stomach acid or gut health.
Low Stomach Acid: A condition known as hypochlorhydria, where the stomach doesn’t produce enough acid, can lead to difficulty absorbing vitamin B12 from food.
B12 Storage Depletion: Even with meat consumption, it may take years for symptoms to appear if your body’s B12 stores become depleted.
