Anemia - Dietary Factors

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Vitamin Deficiencies. The doctor may order tests for vitamin B12 and folate levels. The Schilling test is used to determine whether the body absorbs vitamin B12 normally.

Other Diagnostic Tests

If internal bleeding is suspected as the cause of anemia, the gastrointestinal tract is usually the first possible source. A diagnosis in these cases can often be made if the patient has noticed blood in the stools, which can be black and tarry or red-streaked. Often, however, bleeding may be present but not visible. If so, the patient needs stool tests for this hidden (occult) blood. The patient may need additional tests to diagnose the precipitating condition. Endoscopy, in which a fiber optic tube is used to view into the gastrointestinal tract, is helpful in many patients, particularly when the source of bleeding is unclear. A colonoscopy may also be recommended to rule out colorectal cancer.

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If the patient's diet suggests low iron intake and other causes cannot be established using inexpensive or noninvasive techniques, the patient may simply be given a monthly trial of iron supplements. If the patient fails to respond, further evaluation is needed.

Review Date: 01/13/2011
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).