My 17 year old daughter has been suffering with depression and is on anti depressants. she has now been told she has low B12 deficiency.

[peteteds]

She was told she had folic acid deficiency 6 months ago and I queried her B12 level but was told it was ok. She's just had her bloods done again as I was sure that she was B12 deficient too. Her B12 is 150 and her iron is low although I don't know what that is until we see the doctor in a weeks time. Could all this be causing her depression?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Depression is one of the psychological effects of depression but that doesn't necessarily mean that the B12 is the cause.

I also saw in a clip on another post that some anti-depressants (SSRI's) can actually make the B12 deficiency worse - as they can lead to low levels of B9 and B9 is needed for B12 absorption.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

[suki65]

HI peteteds a book called could it be b12 is excellent at explaining things ,you can take vitamin b12 1,000ug 1 tablet a day which is safe as if its too much it comes out in your urine ,b6 and vitamin d with calcium could also help along with b9 . the above book by two retired doctors states they are trying to get doctors to raise the level of b12 to being above 500 as below 500 lots of different illnesses are being caused through low b12 .please get your daughter to stay clear of anti depressants take vitamins and try to take up a hobby with a very close friend .i wish her luck and much happiness

[peteteds]

She had B9 (folic acid) deficiency before she took the anti depressants. Her B12 was also 150 before the anti depressants but when I questioned it I was told her levels were ok. My B12 was 79 when I was diagnosed. I now want all my children to be tested.

[suki65 in reply to peteteds]

your b12 is very low i had to buy the b12 myself Holland & Barrett

Timed Release Vitamin B-12 (1000ug) these are what i take and now my b12 from 321 to 534 i feel so much better ,but i also take vitamin d with calcium

[Margo in reply to suki65]

Hello Suki65, Interesting which Vit D with calcium do you take please and what volume?

[suki65 in reply to Margo]

natecal D3 600mg/400I.U chewable tablets calcium and cholecalciferol(vitaminD3)

[suki65 in reply to peteteds]

you can buy the b12 testing kit from blue horizon ,but i would definitely buy the b12s

[suki65 in reply to peteteds]

b12awareness.org/could-it-b...

[harvold]

If you dig around you'll find a lot of anecdotal evidence that low vitamin b12 levels cause depression and anxiety. Its interesting how in parts of Europe reporting symptoms of depression will get you a vitamin b12 shot whereas in North America your GP will likely refer you to a psychiatrist whose inclined to prescribe powerful drugs. B12 can and does do wonders with "mood disturbences" etc, there is research out their on it.

Good luck!

[B12Turbo]

PLEASE!!! Peteteds, before you do anything PLEASE ! DO NOT I beg you, start your daughter self-medicating, before you have gained a proper diagnosis, any inputs will simply mess up your test results and make them unreliable if not screw them up completely. So lets begin:- YES is your answer to Depression, it could be a B12 problem POSSIBLY ! it is indeed highly likely, but only proper testing and medication will tell us in time, Tricyclic drugs such as Amitriptyline are often given to solve the problem, unnecessary in the case of it being B12 of course. It's B6 not B9 that is required for the absorption of B12 and B2 is required to activate B6 in the chain. Folic Acid is required for many physiological reactions, not least of all, it is important in the role of cell division.. All cells are involved, but it is the rapidly dividing cells like Red Blood Cells, Immune Cells, along with cells of the Gastrointestinal and Genital tracts that have the greatest need for Folic Acid.

A low Folic Acid level may produce a number of side effects such as poor growth, Diarrhea, Anemia, Gingivitis, but perhaps more importantly it can also cause abnormal PAP smears in women, due to new cells not being adequately produced. Folic Acid and B12 both function as Methyl Donors. They carry and donate Methyl Molecules, in order to facilitate many metabolic reactions, including the manufacture of DNA and Brain Neurotransmitters. Methyl donation is also involved in the metabolism of Homocysteine, a build up of which may lead to Arteriosclerosis and Osteoporosis. Folic Acid is available as Folic Acid (Folate) and as Folinic Acid (5-methyl - tetra - hydrofolate). In order to make best use of Folic Acid, the body must first convert it to Tetrahydrofolate and then add a methyl group to form Folinic Acid, so supplementing with Folinic Acid simply circumvents these steps. Folinic Acid is therefore the most active form and is more efficient at increasing the bodies stores of Folic Acid. Despite this, most tablets are simply Folic acid (Folate) with a general dosage of around 400mcg per day, although 800mcg is not seen as uncommon.

In a single test, I would suggest that a Homocysteine Test is a very good indicator of both B12 and Folic Acid levels. However, your GP may recommend a HoloTC and if necessary a MMA test to fully establish the level of B12 alone, prior to any possible Homocysteine test.

All of these tests are available at Guy's / St Thomas's hospital in London and by post. However, whole blood is not to be sent by post for the Homocysteine test, your GP will need to get your local hospital to take the blood for that, then it will require the labs to separate the Serum, preferably freeze it within an hour or two, then it's ok to post, but all this needs to be completed asap after the blood is drawn. To contact Guy's Hospital, please ring Denise O'blein on 0207 188 7188, she will help and advise you. Dr. Dominic Harrington heads up the team, Dominic is the Director of Medical Research at Guy's, he's a great chap and his team specialize in problems associated with B12 deficiencies.

I hope all this helps and your daughter soon gets to feel better, but please do go the proper medical / scientific route with the help of your GP.

Best wishes B12 Turbo