Autoimmune Gastritis and Pernicious Anaemia – Symptoms, Treatment and Research

A presentation by Professor Lori Taylor followed by a Question and Answer Session with Lori and Dr Wilhemina Rietsema, Chaired by PAS CEO, Katrina Burchell.

Lori Taylor is a Professor of Integrative and Functional Nutrition at Saybrook University in Pasadena, California, USA. She holds a bachelors degree in biochemistry from UC Berkeley and master’s degrees in education from Stanford University and Nutrition from Bastyr University. She has been a clinical dietitian and educator for over 25 years, specializing in autoimmune and GI disorders. Lori is an active member of CluB-12 and her paper Creating a Framework for Treating Autoimmune Gastritis—The Case for Replacing Lost Acid was published in February 2024. Lori will talk about the findings in her paper and the other hypotheses she is working on in the area of autoimmune gastritis. Autoimmune gastritis is characterized by the destruction of gastric parietal cells, resulting in low or non-existent stomach acid. Many patients with the autoimmune disease pernicious anaemia also have damage to parietal cells or their lack intrinsic factor contributes to gastric issues and symptoms like IBS and IBD or low stomach acid. In many cases the prescription of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI’s) has been the go to for GPs to prescribe inevitably making the symptoms worse for patients with PA as PPI’s are known to deplete vitamin B12. Lori will talk about her research into mealtime acid supplementation, vitamin C and the theory that acidification could also reduce the potential for hypergastrinemia and the production of N-nitroso compounds, consequently reducing the risk of gastric cancers. This topical subject following the NICE Guideline use of the wording autoimmune gastritis, and references to atrophic gastritis as terms for pPernicious Anaemia is something that we think will be helpful for our members to better understand.

Dr Willemina Rietsema is a GP with a specific interest in Pernicious Anaemia, B12 deficiency and in ongoing research in this area. She is a co-founder of CluB-12, an international collaborative of researchers and educators interested in all aspects of vitamin B12. Willemina served on the NICE committee for the drafting of the Guideline on B12 Deficiency in over 16s and works for the NHS as a GP appraiser and out of hours GP. Her own experience and in-depth knowledge of B12 deficiency symptoms and treatment and her long term support of the Pernicious Anaemia Society through speaking at events and being involved in published papers gives her a uniquely insightful understanding of this condition.