B12 levels

[jojo1957]

Does anyone know what your b12 level should be ? Had my levels checked as have many symptoms which would point to being deficient. My doctor has now sent me for heart test over a 24hr period because of the palpitations!! Can anyone advise on the levels please no e were 277 which he said was ok. Any help would be appreciated. I am a type 2 diabetic. 🤥

[GGourmet]

It's different for everyone depending upon how your liver and kidneys regulate this. My normal level appears to be around 800 and in some countries it is regarded as deficient if below 500.

[fbirder in reply to GGourmet]

In no country at all is a level of below 500 regarded as deficient, There is one article from 30 years ago that said the normal levels in Japan were between 500 and 1300. They offered no reference for this alt-fact.

Other studies have shown that, in normal people, about 90% of the population have levels below 500.

[helvella in reply to GGourmet]

500 or 800 whats? Units would help.

[fbirder]

It's not possible to say how low a level of 272 is without knowing the units (pmol/L, ng/mL, etc.) or the 'normal range'.

However, it's likely that your result will be towards the low end of 'normal' and that symptoms of deficiency can be present despite 'normal' serum levels.

Did you have your folate tested?

Ask for a test for homocysteine. Deficiency in B12 or folate, can cause high levels of homocysteine, which can cause cardiovascular problems.

[Polaris]

You'll see from the latest BMJ Research document summary below that B12 deficiency is complex, there is no gold standard test and that symptoms are paramount, especially :

a) if you are over 60 - research shows that 40% of people over the age of 60 have low B12 absorption owing to diminished hydrochloric acid and atrophic gastritis, which is why some experts believe that test levels are set too low generally, and, particularly, for this age group.

b) if you also have type 2 diabetes, and taking Metformin medication - this will also depletes B12 levels.

BMJ Research Document - summary only - but GP would probably be able to access full document:

bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g5226

and another helpful link, as well PAS pinned posts on R/H side here.

b12deficiency.info/b12-writ...

PS. From Sally Pacholok and Dr J Stuart's excellent book, " Could it be B12? - an Epidemic of Misdiagnoses" :

"B12 deficiency can strike anyone at any age but some patients are at far greater risk than others. THe majority of cases of B12 deficiency stem from malabsorption disorders (see chapter 12), and seniors are at highest risk because 30 to 40 per cent of them have atrophic Gastritis. This condition(as well as chronic proton pump inhibitor use) drastically reduces levels of stomach acid needed to free B12 from animal proteins."

"At this time, we believe normal serum levels should be greater than 550 pg/ml. For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1,000 pg/ml."

[GGourmet in reply to Polaris]

Thanks for this Polaris. I knew I had read figures of about 500 in several places, not just the apparently discredited Japan figure.

[Polaris in reply to GGourmet]

Forgot to add, not just Sally Pacholok, but Prof. David Smith agrees levels should be raised. He has lectured at the PAS Conference and carried out studies into dementia:

"In the elderly, it (B12def.) can cause dementia, says David Smith, Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology at Oxford University.

‘B12 deficiency is more common after the age of 60 and, once levels fall below 500 pg/ml (picograms per millilitre — the normal range being 500 to 1,000), the brain starts to deteriorate at twice the usual rate, making memory loss six times more likely,’ he says".

[jojo1957 in reply to Polaris]

Thanks for your reply i thought it was 500 i had read it sinewgere but am glad to have it confirmed. I went to see my doctor to ask to be sent to heamotology but was given the deaf ear he has given me nite th o have my heart monitored for a 24hr period cos of the palpitations!!!! I will just have to insist all he said when I was leaving is that he would look into it my level cane back at 274. Thanks again

[Polaris in reply to jojo1957]

Might be a good idea to take someone close with you for extra support as GP might be more careful to take things seriously with a witness present.

Good luck jojo

[jojo1957 in reply to Polaris]

Thanks - I will.

[fbirder in reply to Polaris]

Professor Smith denies ever having said that.

[greenbexy]

I have had a 24hr heart monitor on a couple of years ago because of palpitations, but nothing was found. However a few years later after still suffering them and other symptoms such as tiredness, pins and needles angular cheilitis etc it was discovered by blood results that I was low on folate, B12, iron and vit D.

Even though it looks like your vitamin B12 is on the low side, depending on the range, I would ask your doctor to check iron and folate at the least.

[geronimo1]

After reading on this site and online I am attempting to get my 270 B12 up to at least 500. Better safe than sorry.