B12 drop

[misslissa]

Hi my b12 has dropped from 434 to 234 In a month. What would cause this?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Are you being treated for a B12 deficiency?

There are several things that can cause a problem absorbing B12 - PA is one possibility, low stomach acidity is another, various drug interactions - including drugs used to treat high stomach acidity and metformin used to treat type 2 diabetes.

Most B12 is absorbed in the ileum and although the body usually stores a lot of b12 in the liver releasing it back in bile into the ileum for re-absorption as needed but if the mechanisms in the ileum aren't working well some and possibly most will just leak away through the gut rather than getting in to your blood.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi misslissa, are you vegan or vegetarian. Are you going through a lot of stress at the moment, been doing lots of exercises, using Proton Pump Inhibitors, antacids, had dental treatment where nitrous oxide was used, taken Metformin (as Gambit62 mentioned). These as just a few reasons why B12 is either depleted or blocked.

I'm not a medically qualified person but I'd be interested to know why you were tested twice in a month.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Link about causes of B12 deficiency.

b12deficiency.info/what-are...

Do you have any symptoms?

b12deficiency.info/signs-an...

pernicious-anaemia-society....

See PAS Symptoms Checklist in above link.

b12d.org

martynhooper.com/

Recent UK documents make it clear that people who are symptomatic for B12 deficiency should be treated even if B12 blood levels are normal range.

1)ukneqas-haematinics.org.uk/...

2)bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5226

3) google "BCSH Cobalamin and Folate Guidelines"

B12 books

"Could It Be B12" by Sally Pacholok and JJ. Stuart

"What You Need to Know About Pernicious Anaemia and Vitamin B12 Deficiency" by Martyn Hooper

Link about B12 deficiency and PA

patient.info/doctor/pernici...

[misslissa]

Hi, sorry I didn't see my notifications...

I'm not being treated for b12. I'm early on in being treated for hypothyroid and Hashimoto's, I started low dose (25mcg) levothyroxine after this test. So until then I've been on no medications.

I'm not vegan or vegetarian, no excessive exercise, minimal really. I have a 3 year old though and still breastfeed so I feel depleted generally.

I begged the GP to test me as I've read the link with hypothyroid then I wanted a full thyroid panel so paid privately a few weeks later.