Vitamin B12

[EllsBells591]

Hi all,

After advice on here (thank you!) I started taking Thorne Vit B complex around 3 months ago. I stopped a couple of weeks ago so I could do my medichecks test. Now, I probably didn't take the supplement every single day, but I was pretty good with it. My order arrived Mid May, and I've been on the second bottle for a little while now, so I've taken it for over 60 days. These are my results. Should I be expecting my Vitamin B12 to be highers? TIA.

Ellie

[SlowDragon Administrator]

You only needed to stop B complex 7 days before test

Low B12 symptoms

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

methyl-life.com/blogs/defic...

With serum B12 result below 500, (Or active B12 below 70) recommended to be taking a separate B12 supplement and add a separate vitamin B Complex 

Then once your serum B12 is over 500 (or Active B12 level has reached 70), you may be able to reduce then stop the B12 and just carry on with the B Complex.

If Vegetarian or vegan likely to need ongoing separate B12 few times a week

Highly effective B12 drops

natureprovides.com/products...

Or

B12 sublingual lozenges

uk.iherb.com/pr/jarrow-form...

cytoplan.co.uk/shop-by-prod...

B vitamins best taken after breakfast

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 7 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endo.confex.com/endo/2016en...

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In week before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Post from 4 months ago

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Presumably your GP tested for Pernicious Anaemia?

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

EllsBells591

It was suggested in reply to your previous post that your Active B12 was low enough to need testing for B12 deficiency and Pernicious Anaemia. Did you check the list of signs and symptoms as advised and get further testing? If not then I think you should seriously consider doing so because if it is PA then you wont absorb B12. Also, stop the B Complex until this further testing has been done because it contains B12 and folate and this is going to skew results.

I stopped a couple of weeks ago so I could do my medichecks test

For future reference there is no need to stop for so long. It's biotin in the B Complex that can cause false results and the amount of biotin suggests the length of time it needs to be left off.

It's suggested that biotin should be left off for 3-7 days. The amount usually in a B Complex is relatively small so 3 days should be enough, the amount in a stand alone biotin supplement or hair/nail supplement is much much higher and needs 7 days.

Thorne Basic B contains 400mcg biotin so 3 days will be enough. A biotin or hair/nail supplement typically contains 5 or 10mg so needs the longer time.

[EllsBells591]

Thank you so much, this is really helpful. Because I am vegan I didn’t think the doctor would listen until I’d been on a consistent supplement for a good period of time. Will my results be inaccurate because I was off them for 2 weeks or so? Would the really have been higher if I’d only stopped for a few days, and if so would they be high enough that I wouldn’t need to do the PA test?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to EllsBells591]

You need to use the blue Reply button under a member's reply for them to be notified.

I'll call out to SeasideSusie so she will see that you replied when she next looks.

[EllsBells591 in reply to helvella]

Thanks, sorry - I’m exhausted after a really busy week at work as I’m changing job (last day today). I am fairly tech savvy normally 🙈

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to EllsBells591]

Will my results be inaccurate because I was off them for 2 weeks or so? Would the really have been higher if I’d only stopped for a few days, and I’d so would they be high enough that I wouldn’t need to do the PA test?

Your folate level will probably have dropped, by how much I can't say. B12 level probably no real difference and with an Active B12 level of around 44 then it's very low.

Perhaps go back and re-read replies to your previous post where B12 was discussed:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

You were given links to check for signs/symptoms of B12 deficiency - these should take precedence over numbers anyway - did you do that and do you have any? This is what you need as evidence to back up your request for further testing.