Total Body Counting in the Assessment of Vitamin B1 Absorption in Patients with Pernicious Anemia, Achiorhydria Without Pernicious Anemia and in Acid Secretors

TROPHIC GASTRITIS is a common occurrence in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease.1’2 The severity of the atrophic gastritis varies from achiorhydria with malabsorption of vitamin B12 ( Addisonian pernicious anemia ) ( P.A. ) , through achlorhydria with adequate vitamin B12 absorption, to minimal or normal secretion of gastric acid and intrinsic factor. It was therefore considered that the study of thyroid patients supplemented by other patients who are known to have pernicious anemia should provide a good opportunity to determine critically the place of total body counting as a method of measuring vitamin B12 absorption.