vitamin b12 deficiency

[Yankees28]

Hello,

I am writing to ask if any one following a plant based/vegan diet has been told their vitamin b12 is low. I get so confused as what the best way to eat for a kidney diet. I was hoping plantbased/vegan would be best but now it has led to a new issue. Just so confused. It is all getting to be too much.

Thanks for listening

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

Hi Yankee, It is very common to have low B12 with vegetarian and plant based diets. Mine got low. Simple fix: B12 and folate supplement. Fixed me right up and it has not been an issue since. I did run this by my nephrologist, and she also agreed this was the answer. If you do not have issues with potassium, a great supplement is to add Nutritional Yeast to your diet. It has a great cheesy taste and is yummy on veggies and pasta. But it is very high in potassium.

[Yankees28 in reply to Bassetmommer]

Thank you. Will check in with kidney doctor. Sometimes kidney doctor and primary care doctor not always in contact with each other. Thanks again.

[neidrum in reply to Bassetmommer]

finally got my blood work again everything was normal except for urine creatinine it was low 16 suppose to be 20-275. I don't understand why my blood creatinine is 89 normal. I have hepatitis A & B abnormal, Hepatitis C 11. suppose to be less than 1.oo its high

so I figure this is my liver acting up. My grf was 65 went up to 74 thank God

I think i am going to stay on my kidney diet I feel much better and continue to walk at lease 4 to 5000 steps daily. I want to thank you for the vinegar in my food it helped and thank you all for information and caring.

I guess I'll have to find a liver site no just joking God bless you all.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador]

I am on a CKD diet. B12 being low, I was prescribed a sublingual B12 supplement by my PD, who also gave me a B12 shot. So far it is working.

[rabbit01]

Hello. My B12 was low. I have a B12 injection every 3 months done by the nurse at the GP clinic. They can also give you a B12 tablet unless your B12 deficiency is caused by a condition called pernicious anaemia in which case you'll need the injection.

[Bet117 NKF Ambassador]

Hi Yankee,

Hang in there as you'll get this straightened out.

B12 deficiencies are not uncommon.

I've been plant based for years now and love it.

I take 2400mg of B12 every other day as well as 18mg of NOW brand vegan iron three times per week; both my PCP and nephrologist approved.

I also make a point of eating foods rich in B12 such as apples, blueberries, celery and fortified cereals such as Grapenut Flakes and Cream of Wheat.

Potatoes, sweet potatoes and spinach are also vegetables high in B12 but also in potassium, so if that's not an issue, eat minimally.

Bassetmommer has also given you some great ideas as how to keep this vitamin normal. I haven't eaten Nutritional Yeast but have heard that it adds to foods.

Check with your nephrologist about taking a supplement and adding B12 rich foods to your diet.

If your nephrologist and PCP aren't communicating, ask them to and provide fax and telephone numbers as they are part of your health care team.

I have done this and they are both happy to fax visit notes to each other after each visit.

Hope this helps.

Bet

[Yankees28 in reply to Bet117]

Thank you. I will do that.

[barbara55109]

I lost my large intestine and a bit of my small 30 years ago. B12 is absorbed in the terminal ileum, the part of the small intestine I lost. I get B12 shots once a month.

[Marvin8]

I take 1000mcg of B-12 every day and it keeps me at the upper end of the ref. range. I could actually cut it down to every other day and it'd be fine, but I do a lot of resistance training so I prefer to keep it in the higher end.

[RoxanneKidney]

Never. Vegan for years.