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Intrinsic factor is a protein made by stomach cells that lets your body absorb vitamin B12. Without it, you can't get enough B12, so your red blood cells either drop in number or stop working right, causing anemia.
Intrinsic factor is a protein made by stomach cells that lets your body absorb vitamin B12. Without it, you can't get enough B12, so your red blood cells either drop in number or stop working right, causing anemia.
Intrinsic factor is a glycoprotein that is released by the parietal cells in the stomach, and it's needed for the body to absorb vitamin B12, which is one of the key vitamins required to make healthy red blood cells. Intrinsic factor deficiency alone won't cause anemia, but it will prevent the body from absorbing vitamin B12, which will cause either a lack of red blood cells in general or red blood cells that aren't able to function properly and carry enough oxygen around the body, leading to anemia.
