Quick question linking ferritin, folate and B12

[Donought]

Hi

Hope everyone is ready for Christmas

I'm going to see my GP this afternoon re B12 and wondered if anyone could explain my results so I'm going armed with knowledge. I'm usually quite pathetic at the docs.

My folate ( level = 2.8), ferritin (31) and B12 (244) were all low in June. I started supplements and managed to get things up. In sept 2017 these were my test results:

Ferritin 40

Folate 10.7

B12 446

I tested privately with Medichecks in Nov 17 and now have:

Ferritin 55.4

Folate 12.5

*B12 290 (170-743)

Anyone any idea as to why as ferritin and folate increase B12 would decrease.

My symptoms have improved somewhat but the memory loss, brain fog, fatigue, tinnitus etc has not. All blood tests such as MCV, haemoglobin etc are 'normal'.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Merry Christmas and health and happiness for 2018 x

[clivealive Forum Support]

It may just be that different laboratories use different ranges <from - to>

Have you been supplementing with iron, folic acid or B12?

I am not a medically trained person but I've had P.A. (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 45 years.

I wish you well

[Donought in reply to clivealive]

The lab ranges are similar. Sorry don't have the NHS ones to hand.

Yes, been supplementing with folate, ferritin with B12, B6 etc then an additional B12. Not sublingual though. I've not changed supplements so no dosage differences. I just can't see a reason for the lower B12?

Sorry to hear you've had PA for so long. I'm sure that although you're not medically trained you know more than most of the doctors put together!!

All the best

[yukithehamster]

I am not very sure. Maybe you can ask your doctor to test for MMA (methylmalonic acid) and homocysteine. Homocysteine and MMA will elevate when there is even mild B12 deficiency even if the serum B12 is low normal. MMA is slightly more expensive test.

For me I am more concern that about getting improved digestive health. Yesterday I found out my anti-parietal cells antibody came back positive. And both B12, folate were very low normal. In my family, my grandmother has gastric cancer, and my father has a mass in stomach. They are very advanced in age when diagnosed, so hopefully it is not genetic.

It will be good if you have the normal lab range as different labs uses different units and range.

God speed in feeling better soon!

[ShootingStars]

Merry Christmas! Happiness, health, peace and love to you too, in 2018. I just posted similar concerns yesterday. No one has responded yet. By B12, do you B12 serum? If so, in certain conditions, this is a rather worthless test. If you want to know what your cellular level of B12 is, you need to test transcobalamin or B12 binding capacity. In my post, I have low ferritin, high serum B12, but I have a transcobalamin deficiency. My folate is good and so is MMA. Then, after increasing my consumption of iron, in 3 weeks my ferritin jumped up 15 points, but all of my other values decreased. Similar to what you are experiencing with B12 decreasing after supplementing. My iron stayed the exactly the same.

That is really interesting that you have tinnitus. One of my sister's has that and her ferritin is always very, very low. I think her last lab test was 15.

What forms of folate, B12, iron and other B's are you taking?

[Donought in reply to ShootingStars]

Hi shooting stars!! Happy new year!

Sorry not been on here for a while, my mum died suddenly - inflammatory breast cancer that spread really quickly - one of the reasons I'm trying to become healthier!!

How did you know that your were having problems with transcobalamin deficiency? Did the dr's test or did you go privately? How are you treating it?

I suspect, as you say, that B12 test is serum b12, which is worrying as I'm guessing my available B12 is lower. I don't think the docs have a clue. My lovely doc told me they all my levels are low and that's ok, it's just me. Then when I went back showing decreasing B12 after supplementing she said "mmm, your ferritin is low it should be over 50", whilst looking at the same results! Seriously!!

I hope you've had some replies by now. I'll figure out how to read your post and head over.

Wishing you a healthy 2018!!

[Aisling]

My dad has PA.

PA symptoms develop over many years as the body can store B12 for up to 10 years, so even in a blood test is will zhpw the whole amount of B12 and doesn't differentiate between what is active B12 and inactive B12.

Im severely anaemic and have alot of the symptoms such as folate deficiencie, iron deficiencie, numb fingers, tinnitus, extreme fatigue, lymph node swelling, face rash, menstrual problems, bipolar disorder (and so on).

Every dr ive seen had told me my b12 is fine (about 400); i havr insisted on being referred to a haematologist so they can test for intrinsic factor and active B12.

At the end of the day alot lf doctors dobt know enough about PA to make a diagnosis.

My dads nervous system completely shut down after his levels fell below 100.

He couldnt function, didnt knoe who my sister and i were and accused my mum of trying to kill him.

He ended up being sectioned.

They thought he either had a brain tumour or a nervous breakdown.

He now has injections every 2 months and he came back to us after his 3rd injection, we were amazed how quickly he got back to normal.

I think what im trying to say is, don`t take no for an answer.

You know your body and when something is not right.

Asked to be referred to a haematologist.