Yes, lymphoma can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, often by disrupting bone marrow function, leading to anemia, or through inflammation and direct cancer involvement, affecting nutrient absorption or metabolism; it's a known cause of anemia in lymphoma patients, sometimes mimicking other conditions like myelodysplastic syndromes.
Hypovitaminosis of B12 is often reported in patients with hematologic malignancy like leukemia or lymphoma. Here's why: Bone Marrow Suppression: Some types of blood cancers can affect bone marrow production of red blood cells, thus resulting in decreased levels of B12.
Research suggests that vitamin B12 deficiency increases the risk of certain types of cancer, including stomach cancer, breast cancer and colorectal cancer. At the same time, digestive cancers, such as stomach or small intestine tumors, can interfere with vitamin B12 absorption.
Lymphoma and many treatments for lymphoma can cause low blood counts, such as:
This observation is consistent with the hypothesized association between vitamin D status and NHL risk due to the reduced capacity for vitamin D production in response to sun exposure among those with dark skin and with increased age54.
Lymphoma's exact cause is often unknown, but it develops from genetic damage to lymphocytes (white blood cells), leading to uncontrolled growth, with risk factors including a weakened immune system (from diseases or medications), certain viral/bacterial infections (like Epstein-Barr, HIV, H. pylori), family history, exposure to specific chemicals (benzene, pesticides), radiation, and lifestyle factors like smoking, notes Cancer Council.
If a patient with B12 deficiency presents with persistent anemia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, unusual white blood cell counts, or noticeable lymph node enlargement, it is important to consider the possibility of an underlying hematologic malignancy.
Blood tests can sometimes show whether lymphoma cells are present. Blood tests may be used to test for viruses, including HIV, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus. Blood tests also measure levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is often higher in people with lymphoma.
The most common symptom of lymphoma is a painless swelling or lump in the neck, armpit or groin. This is caused by lymphoma cells building up in the lymph nodes, which makes them bigger.
Anaemia is a shortage of red blood cells or haemoglobin in your blood. It can develop as an effect of lymphoma, or as a side effect of treatment. Anaemia can cause tiredness, weakness, or shortness of breath.
A B12 ≥ 1000 ng/L was associated with the presence of solid cancer without metastases (OR 1.96 [95%CI: 1.18 to 3.25]) and with metastases (OR 4.21 [95%CI: 2.67 to 6.64]) after adjustment for all elevated B12-related causes.
Causes of Vitamin B12 deficiency
In rare circumstances, it can hide a severe disease that should be promptly addressed. We report the case of an acute myeloid leukaemia presenting as an initially predictable B12 deficiency in a vegetarian patient with chronic gastritis. The supplementation rapidly corrected the deficit and the accompanying cytopenias.
Blood tests can help your doctors detect the presence of some of the telltale signs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These may include anemia, or low levels of red blood cells, which are needed to carry oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.
Some people with NHL have lymphoma cells in their bone marrow when they are diagnosed. This can cause low blood cell counts, such as: low red blood cell counts (anaemia), causing tiredness and sometimes breathlessness. low white blood cell counts, increasing your risk of getting infections.
Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) is a sub-type of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-related non-Hodgkin lymphomas common in Asia and Latin America but rare elsewhere. Its pathogenesis is complex and incompletely understood. Lymphoma cells are transformed from NK- or T-cells, sometimes both.
Indolent lymphoma, also known as low-grade lymphoma, is a group of slow-growing non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). Because they spread slowly, they tend to have fewer signs and symptoms when first diagnosed and may not require immediate treatment.
NHL most often affects adults, but children can get it too. See Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in Children. NHL usually starts in lymph nodes or other lymph tissue, but it can sometimes affect the skin.
There isn't a blood test that will show whether or not you have lymphoma. But blood tests can check your general health and can sometimes pick up problems caused by lymphoma. Blood tests can check: how well your liver and kidneys are working.
The most common early sign of lymphoma is a painless enlarged lymph node(s) in the neck or upper chest. Sometimes you can feel the swollen lymph node(s) in your armpit, stomach area or groin.
Having a high white blood cell count (15,000 or higher). Having a low lymphocyte count (below 600 or less than 8% of the white blood cell count).
Some infections can cause symptoms similar to lymphoma:
Autoimmune: Pernicious anemia is an autoimmune condition in which antibodies to intrinsic factors are produced. Anti-intrinsic factor antibodies bind to and inhibit the effects of intrinsic factors, resulting in an inability of B12 to be absorbed by the terminal ileum.
B12 deficiency can trigger specific food cravings, most notably for meat, fish, or eggs, as the body seeks animal-based sources to replenish the vitamin, especially in those on vegetarian/vegan diets or older adults. While cravings for sugary or salty foods can also signal general B-vitamin issues, the distinct urge for protein-rich animal products is a key indicator, but professional testing is crucial for confirmation.
Pernicious anemia is a relatively rare autoimmune disorder that causes diminishment in dietary vitamin B12 absorption, resulting in B12 deficiency and subsequent megaloblastic anemia. It affects people of all ages worldwide, particularly those over 60.