Low B

[foxglove]

My husband's B12 is 186, sorry don't know lab. range but I think by any standard considered low. GP. doesn't consider it a prob. I've been adding liquid B to his cereal. While this might not do any good I'm anxious that it might harm. Could you please advise?

[fbirder]

One of the good things about B12 is that it's very safe, even at high levels. Any excess in the blood is simply eliminated in the urine.

If you're ever unlucky enough to suffer from cyanide poisoning then you may be treated with B12 - a 5g intravenous infusion. This is likely to be about 5000 more than the B12 you're adding to your husband's cornflakes.

Does he suffer from any symptoms of B12 deficiency? pernicious-anaemia-society.... If he does then the doctor should be treating to fight the symptoms, not treating to match some arbitary blood level.

[foxglove in reply to fbirder]

Thanks for reply, agree that doc.. should be treating to fight the symptoms - AND the person - rather than some what someone has fixed as blood level. Appt. with GP.on 3rd. Nov. for meds. review so will labour the point then. Husband goes into usual non- hearing non-answering mode at docs.

Knew about B12 being eliminated in urine, more bothered that husband will be annoyed(????) when he finds out....... but I'm acting in his best interests as neither he or doc. suggesting anything. Blame Husband as much as doc. as when asked how he is replies "Not too bad" and he has symptoms now bad enough to have been referred to memory clinic (appt. on 15th Oct. Have had a few visits so maybe GP will pay attention to what they report.