B12 confirmation

[RaJender9666]

Plz let me know 232 of B12 causes deficiency Iam having issues with this. I'm 25 only.

[Mary-intussuception]

I think I would ask my doctor to investigate further - if this were me.

I would ask to have blood tests to check levels of Folate and Ferritin also, and possibly Vitamin D.

I would also ask for tests to eliminate Pernicious Anemia. I am not qualified but I think they would be Intrisic factor and MMA tests (??)

I would also make a written list of all my symptoms to show GP.

xx

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Rajender - could you give a bit more background.

It would be good to have the units and ranges that went with the blood test - there are two common measures for serum B12 and they have different ranges.

What country are you based in? Are you a vegan? Why did you have a serum B12 test done.

Serum B12 isn't a gold standard test and if used as a single marker for B12 deficiency will miss 25% of people who are B12 deficient - but also picks up 5% who aren't.

Macrocytic anaemia, in which your red blood cells are larger and rounder than normal, is a classic symptom of B12 deficiency but also isn't present in 25% of people who first present with B12 deficiency.

On the other hand the symptoms of B12 deficiency overlap with a large number of other conditions, including diabetes and hypothyroidism.

[RaJender9666 in reply to Gambit62]

I. E 232 pg. Ml

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to RaJender9666]

sorry Rajender don't really understand your reply- usual units are pmol/L or ng/L. Another way of saying mg/L would be pg/mL. Are you saying the units were pg/mL.

Also was there a range in brackets after the result?

and where are you based - treatment protocols vary depending on which country you are in.

[Ryaan]

In short that is low especially if you’re having issues. In uk it’s roughly 300-900 range.

You can inject 1 per week for 6-10 weeks to get in good high range and then reduce dosage to 1 per month, 1 per 2 months or 1 every 3 months depending on how you feel. You can’t really overdose as excess is passed through urine.

You need to take Folic Acid 400ug 1 daily as it works together with B12.

You can take orally which is the slower route as injections work fast.

I would ask doc to do further tests to investigate why it’s low first before you take any B12.