vitamin B12 deficiency and hypothyroidism

[Anmol_raj12]

I have vitamin B12 deficiency...the level was only 24...so doctor prescribed me for 6months injection and 3months tablet...then after 6months I have to checked it up..my 3months tablet is over..only injection left for 3months.. should I continue tablet for another 3months or not???

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Anmol_raj, I am assuming that the test you had was active B12 rather than serum b12 - do you know whatthe range that was associated with the test.

Not sure that serum B12 can actually measure 24 which is one reason for assuming that it was active.

The real question is what caused you to become B12 deficient. Whilst high dose oral can be effective as a maintenance regime for some people it doesn't work for others. At this point using serum B12 or active B12 as a way of guaging whether you are okay or not is probably not going to be useful and you need to go on symptoms. So the secondary question is how do you feel on the bablets?

If your B12 deficiency wasn't caused by a treatable absorption problem (which would probably boil down to h pylori infection (for which you would have been treated with anti-biotics and PPIs) or tapeworm infection. Otherwise the absorption problem will still be there so you will need to continue finding non-dietary sources for B12 - which could be high dose (>=1000mcg a day) B12 if the tablets are working for you - or would be continuing with injections if they aren't