Higgins C
Nurs Times. 1995;91(22):38-9.
Dietary cells and the vitamins B12 and folate are necessary for the production of the red blood cells (erythrocytes), which carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from tissues to lungs. Deficiency of either one results in anaemia, which is characterised by low haemoglobin concentration. Symptoms result from reduced tissue oxygenation and include weakness, lethargy, palpitation, headache and shortness of breath. The first-time laboratory test of all patients suspected of being anaemic is the full blood count. Results of a full blood count may suggest the anaemia is caused by a nutritional deficiency of B12 folate or iron. Laboratory measurement of the concentration in blood of iron and vitamin B12 and folate, along with several other tests described here, are useful in the differential diagnosis of the anaemic patients.
饮食中的细胞以及维生素B12和叶酸是生成红细胞（红血球）所必需的，红细胞将氧气从肺部输送到组织，并将二氧化碳从组织输送到肺部。缺乏其中任何一种都会导致贫血，其特征是血红蛋白浓度低。症状由组织氧合减少引起，包括虚弱、嗜睡、心悸、头痛和呼吸急促。对所有疑似贫血患者的首次实验室检查是全血细胞计数。全血细胞计数的结果可能表明贫血是由维生素B12、叶酸或铁的营养缺乏引起的。血液中铁、维生素B12和叶酸浓度的实验室测量，以及此处描述的其他几项检查，有助于贫血患者的鉴别诊断。
