Low or depleted vitamin B12 status can worsen gastrointestinal problems by impairing mucosal repair and driving malabsorption in conditions such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, where inflammation, resections, and dysbiosis limit B12 uptake. Reduced B12 also weakens white blood cell production and immune defenses, increasing susceptibility to bacterial, viral, and fungal infections that further destabilize gut balance and make it even harder to restore adequate B12 levels. This medication is commonly used for Pain Management.
Akbulut S. An assessment of serum vitamin B12 and folate in patients with Crohn's disease. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Dec 16;101(50):e31892. Trimarchi H, Forrester M, Schropp J, Pereyra H, Freixas EA. Low initial vitamin B12 levels in Helicobacter pylori--positive patients on chronic hemodialysis. Nephron Clin Pract. 2004;96(1):c28-32. www.jcimcr.org Page 2 Citation: Andrès E, Lorenzo-Villalba N. Maldigestion and malabsorption of cobalamins (Vitamin B12): Mechanisms, clinical spectrum, at-risk populations, and therapeutic approaches. J Clin Images Med Case Rep. 2025; 6(11): 3841.
Some side effects may be linked to nutrient depletion caused by this medication.
Regular aspirin use, even at therapeutic doses, can lead to lower-than-normal levels of folate in the blood (serum folate). Additionally, aspirin might slightly increase the amount of folate excreted in urine, potentially disrupting the body's folate balance. For those taking regular aspirin therapy, folic acid supplementation should be considered to prevent a deficiency.
Studies indicate that medications like aspirin can increase zinc loss through urine. Zinc plays a vital role in wound healing, protein synthesis, cell reproduction, immunity, and vision. If you take aspirin regularly, consider monitoring zinc levels and supplementation may be beneficial to prevent a deficiency.
Regular use of aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) can increase how much vitamin C your body gets rid of through urine, potentially leading to deficiency. If you take aspirin regularly, consider supplementing with vitamin C supplementation.
Research found that individuals hospitalized with heart disease and a history of aspirin use were nearly twice as likely to have low or borderline vitamin B12 levels compared to non-aspirin users. While this doesn't definitively prove aspirin causes B12 deficiency, it raises a potential link. Aspirin can irritate the stomach lining in some individuals. This is concerning because the stomach plays a crucial role in vitamin B12 absorption by producing hydrochloric acid and intrinsic factor. Both are essential for proper B12 uptake.