Is there a link between the food-cobalamin malabsorption and the pernicious anemia?

Background: A relation between food-cobalamin malabsorption and pernicious anemia has been suggested, particularly in the event of food-cobalamin malabsorption related to hypochlorhydric atrophic gastritis. Study design: This work describes three cases of well-documented cobalamin deficiency related to food-cobalamin malabsorption in three women aged 56, 82 and 68 years who had atrophic gastritis (not associated with Helicobacter pylori infection) and later developed authentic pernicious anemia. Conclusions: This work illustrates the potential relation between these two disorders responsible for cobalamin deficiency.