Storing B12 in the liver

[Pingo]

So....are those of us on B12 for life unable to store it normally in the liver?

I'm guessing chemo interfered with my ability to absorb (stomach lining/fast growing cells) but have staggered along for a number of years as my liver stores depletes.

I was hoping I could build up the stores again, giving some leeway to relapse even if I have to continue SI for life.

Thanks.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

not really that it affects your ability to store - more that it affects your ability to access and use that store. It's like having a huge water reservoir but the pipe that feeds the house has a major leak so very little actually gets to the house.

Mechanism for releasing B12 from the liver back into blood is to release it in bile into the ileum for re-absorption in the ileum but if you can't reabsorb it in the ileum then it just leaks away.

[KimberinUS in reply to Gambit62]

That is a very helpful analogy. I had not considered this was what was happening.

Thank you Gambit62