We are not told that B12, or the lack of is a cause of anemia. A deadly anemia, pernicious anemia. B12 is a water soluble vitamin, absorbed through the small intestine, yet in order to be absorbed it must attach to a protein that is produced in the stomach with an enzyme produced in the stomach. So you must have the protein and the enzyme for the B12 to attach to. (This is the intrinsic factor) If the immune system is askew in any way then the intrinsic factor is compromised. Askew with intestinal inflammation, gluten intolerance, not absorbing fat correctly, or ANY auto-immune disease.
Symptoms of pernicious Anemia: diarrhea or constipation(EITHER),fatigue,loss of appetite, pale skin, concentration problems,shortness of breath,swollen tongue, bleeding gums.
Symptoms of B12 deficiency: anemia, fatigue, constipation, diarrhea, weight loss, numbness, tingling of hands and feet. Neurological issues; balance problems, depression, confusion, dementia, poor memory. Sores in mouth.Brain shrinkage In infants; failure to thrive, movement disorders, developmental delays, anemia.
So why might one not be absorbing B12? (Vitamin B12 Causes)We already know about the intrinsic factor, what though could cause this to fail? Atrophic Gastritis (stomach inflammation caused by…….?) Celiac Disease, Crohns Disease (caused by……?) pernicious Anemia (full circle) Surgical removal of stomach or small intestines (bariatric surgery, cancer, whatever) . Intestinal bacteria or tape worm. Vegan diet. Alcoholism.
When I step back and look at the symptoms of B12, pernicious anemia, Celiac, Gluten intolerance, I think of the question, “Which came first the chicken or the egg?” Which in the end does not really matter. What does matter is knowing that the common thread, the cause is not absorbing, B12, beCAUSE wheat gluten has caused the body to go off kilter. It IS such an easy fix. Step away from the bread!
Delete Wheat with Christy Petty 
Edson, I just saw I did not comment to you. I am so sorry! I hope you are feeling better and no longer the smallest in you class, assuming you have stayed gluten free ;). I know when my son went GF at 10 he gained weight much faster than he grew taller, so he became a bit of a chub for a few months. Bone growth is slower than fat growth. 😉 My son had dropped below the growth charts. At the time of diagnosis he was in 4th grade and was the same height he had been in 1st. He is now 28 and all grown up! He is 5″10′ only 2 inches shorter than his dad and older brother. It took time to shake all the problems gluten had caused, but he has. He had brain fog, was moody, sleep problems, weak bones, leg pains, on top of all the stomach problems. He is a brilliant man, strong and healthy, has 3 children and a gorgeous wife. All because he stopped eating wheat!
Hi Christy,
I am trying to absorb all the info you have given.
Having been diagnosed with coeliac disease recently i have the side affect that if i don’t eat gluten i get extremely tired. also blood tests have showing a lack of B12. But taking B12 tablets only marginally deceases the tiredness.
However if i eat anything with gluten i loose the tiredness virtually straight away but eating to much results in bloating and stool problems (coeliac). Seeing you are eating gluten free how are you getting around the b12 problem. It is very hard for me to concentrate and formulate so the above might seem a bit strange.
If you do get this message and you have any info that might help i would be very pleased to hear from you.
Peter van
Not to sound preachy, BUT you shouldn’t be eating gluten, even to experiment with the tiredness. Each time you put gluten back in you, you start over on day 1. It takes gluten a very long time to ‘dissipate’ from the body, Remember it is not absorbed. A second biopsy is usually not administered before 6 months of not ingesting ANY gluten. My son was still have absorption issues (vitman A defeciency) over a year after wheat gluten being removed. Your energy boost could be from the ‘sugar high’ all get from carbs- Athlets eat high carbs for energy. I would continue the B12, give your gut time to heal. Your digestive and immune systems have been out of whack for years, you can not expect it to heal over night. Maybe the energy boost can be had from other carbs– sugar, rice, corn, potatoes. Also you may need to check your Thyroid, Thyroid disease goes hand in hand with Coeliac. — Hang in there.
i just had a blood test for cealiac. i am 14, i am smaellst in my class, i get very bad stomach pains and i have been for the last 5 years or so. i am also very lazy and unfit so that might be fatigue. i get pissed off when my parents talk about how my day was at school. i also have gained 5 kilos in one week. i now weigh 39. yesterday i weighed 42.