Looks Like GERD – B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 (cobalimin) absorbs into the body best when stomach acid is present. A lack of stomach acid (due to acid reflux medicines) could lead to a vitamin B12 deficiency.

"...Breast fed infants of mothers who follow a vegan diet are at risk for vitamin B12 (cobalimin) deficiency because non-animal source foods don’t contain significant amounts of vitamin B12. Infants of mothers who eat meat, eggs and milk are unlikely to develop a B12 deficiency although there are rare genetic conditions which can impair the absorption of this vitamin.

The symptoms of a B12 deficiency include nausea, poor appetite, digestion problems, lethargy, irritability, confusion, developmental delays, speech delays, balance problems and numbness in the hands and feet, inflamed mucus membranes, sore tongue, frequent upper respiratory infections. Vitamin B12 is not absorbed well if the patient is on acid reducing medications which increases the risk for babies with GERD. Test results indicating B12 deficiency may show the presence of immature or enlarged red blood cells, macrocytic anemia or megaloblastic anemia, or elevated urine methylmalonic acid levels. Soy and seaweed-based foods are claimed to be good sources of B12 but they contain a type of B12 that is not useful in this case..."