B12 testing even though you are taking B12

[Moggie]

Morning all,

I have been taking Jarrow formula B12 5,000iu 5 days a week for 3 to 4 years now and all has been fine but recently I have started to have falls again, gain weight and have a few other niggling symptoms that I cannot explain. Can anyone tell me please if there is a blood test that I can have done to see if I have PA even though I will have a high B12 reading due to taking B12.

Just a bit of background, my mum had PA, my lowest B12 reading was just above the normal range (which we all know means nothing) hence why I started taking B12 as the doctor refused to entertain the idea, I am a thyroid patient with low ferritin levels (now corrected) and low vitd levels (now corrected).

Any help on the above would be appreciated.

Thanks

Moggie x

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Moggie You could always ask for an MMA test. Methylmalonic acid is a chemical used up in one of the cellular reactions mediated by B12. If there's not enough B12 in the cell then MMA levels will rise. If they're not high then it means your cellular levels of B12 are OK. High levels of plasma MMA (>0.75umol/L0 almost invariably indicate cobamalin deficiency.

Then there is the Intrinsic Factor Antibody test to check for P.A.

Sadly the IFA test is unreliable in that it gives false negatives in people with PA half the time. So a negative result doesn't mean that you don't have PA. However, a positive result is a sure-fire, 95% certain indicator of PA.

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

.

[Moggie in reply to clivealive]

Thanks for the reply. Will go into battle with my GP (not for the first time I might add) and see where that takes me. I have had this fight before with my mum's GP but won that battle so hopefully I will succeed this time as well.

Thanks for the reply, will ask for both these test and see what she says. I ended up in A&E on Saturday after the fall so maybe that will sway her.

Moggie x

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to clivealive]

just to clarify - the MMA test is about establishing a B12 deficiency at the cell level. It does this independent of the cause.

PA is a condition that can lead to a B12 deficiency by preventing you absorbing B12 from your diet ... but it isn't the only absorption problem and there is a lot more to B12 than getting 12 into your blood. So a test for PA is a test for a specific condition that will lead to a B12 deficiency.

[Moggie in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks for that. Before I started taking B12 I did have a very low reading on a blood test (only just above the bottom range) but GP's being what they are mine refused to acknowledge that there could be a problem, even though I had very low vitd and ferritin levels. Will ask my GP for both of the tests that have been recommended and see what happens. I have built up a very good relationship now with my GP and she knows that I do not ask for anything that isn't needed so is now pretty open to my suggestions, so fingers crossed.

Thanks again for the reply.

Moggie x