Newly diagnosed b12 deficiency advice please! Results update

[Padders12]

2 of 2!

Any observations/ suggestions gratefully received!

[mightydrunken]

Not sure if I am reading your results correctly but the way I read them it says your B12 serum levels were greater than 1500ng/l!

Were you taking B12 supplements before the blood test? Or maybe I can't read

The other thing I noticed is that your B9/folate level was just in the low range of normal so it would make sense to take some folic acid. I am no doctor so I can't say much else about the other results.

[Padders12 in reply to mightydrunken]

The first lot of tests were on 5/9 but my first B12 result is not on there for some reason?! That was 111.

I then had 2 loading doses before the 1500ng/l result.

I have started taking a B vitamins supplement with folic acid in as I thought that was on the low side. Not sure if that is enough or not. Bit confused with amount of folic acid to take after reading some posts on here about 5mg.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Padders12]

5mg is the dose needed to correct anaemia caused by folate deficiency.

Doses of around .8mcg are probably sufficient to correct homocysteine build up due to folate deficiency.

Folate levels can initially drop when you start B12 treatment just because your body starts using up more folate as processes that use both B12 and folate start running again. Folate stores are minimal so it is very responsive to diet changes. large doses generally aren't needed and the sort of dose you would get in a supplement from a supermarket - 400mcg = 0.4mg is likely to enough.

[Padders12 in reply to Gambit62]

I have only been taking 200mcg in the vit b complex so may look at getting a separate one. There is so much to research and learn!