Treatment of the underlying disease, such as hypothyroidism, is the priority
A 78-year-old man visited a hospital after losing almost 7 kg in weight over a period of one year. He said he could barely eat food because his tongue tasted like iron and had a gritty feel to it. On examination, vitamin B12 deficiency, macrophages (large red blood cells), anemia, and hypothyroidism were confirmed. Endoscopy and abdominal-pelvic CT showed no specific findings. As a result of vitamin B12 supplementation in the treatment of hypothyroidism, the sense of taste returned and weight loss improved.
Taste abnormalities refer to conditions characterized by a distorted or altered sense of taste. There are different symptoms of dysgeusia, such as feeling the intensity of the taste different than before or feeling the taste as metallic. Other symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, and secondary weight loss may accompany a reduced ability to detect certain tastes.
Taste disorders are caused by different factors. Dry mouth due to Sjogren’s syndrome (autoimmune disease) or radiation treatment for cancer, zinc or vitamin B12 deficiency, damage to the nerve responsible for taste, neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis, chronic reflux disease Esophageal disease, metabolic disorders such as diabetes or hypothyroidism can also cause taste abnormalities. Taste changes due to chemicals in cigarettes during smoking and taste abnormalities caused by hormonal changes during pregnancy are also common. It is easy to overlook because abnormal taste due to aging is a very common symptom, but a sudden change in taste like the patient presented this time needs attention.
Eating a vegan diet also causes vitamin B12 deficiency
Among various causes, vitamin B12 deficiency causes fatigue, weakness, paresthesia, and taste disorders or changes in taste. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be caused by eating a vegan diet that is low in animal products, by having pernicious anemia, an autoimmune disease that attacks the cells of the stomach that produce intrinsic factor that acts to absorb vitamin B12, from people with conditions such as Crohn’s disease. or inflammatory bowel disease Cases where absorption of vitamin B12 through food is not good due to gastrointestinal disease, cases where part of the small intestine or ileum where vitamin B12 is absorbed through gastric surgery is removed, proton pump inhibitors or H2 that inhibit gastric acid secretion It can occur when certain drugs, such as receptor blockers, are used for a long time or when alcohol is consumed chronically due to alcoholism. Hypothyroidism can also affect the ability to absorb and use vitamin B12, and reduced production of endogenous factors is known to increase the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is diagnosed with a blood test that measures the level of vitamin B12 in the blood. Injectable or oral supplements are used to treat vitamin B12 deficiency. However, the prior cause needs to be ascertained. If vitamin B12 deficiency is caused by a disease that can be corrected, it is essential to treat the underlying cause at the same time.
Taste disorders can be caused by a variety of factors, including vitamin B12 deficiency, which can be caused by hypothyroidism. Although it is considered a minor symptom, it is also sometimes a difficult and confusing symptom that does not know how to solve it. Therefore, it is important to identify the underlying disease or cause that could cause abnormalities taste for appropriate evaluation and treatment. If you experience taste abnormalities or related symptoms, we recommend that you visit a medical institution for consultation and then find the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.
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