Methylmalonic Acid level of 462 nmol/l

[nifuarain-63]

Normal level in u.s.a. is 87 to 318.

Intrinsic and parietal antibodies tests both negative. Have B12 deficiency symptoms and have autoimmune hypothyroidism.

Thoughts?

Thanks.

[fbirder]

Have you had kidney function tested?

[nifuarain-63 in reply to fbirder]

Not yet. Expect that next. He's pretty on the ball. Diagnosed me with an immune deficiency no one else caught about 2 years ago. He PONDERS, rather than reacting.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi nifuarain-63 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.

Anyone at any age, can become B12 deficient. However, certain people are at an elevated risk. They include the following:

Vegetarians, vegans and people eating macrobiotic diets.

People aged sixty and over

People who’ve undergone any gastric and/or intestinal surgery, including bariatric surgery for weight loss purposes (Gastric bypass).

People who regularly use proton-pump- inhibitors. H2 blockers, antacids, Metformin, and related diabetes drugs, or other medications, or infections such as h-pylori that can interfere with B12 absorption.

People who undergo surgeries or dental procedures involving nitrous oxide, or who use the drug recreationally.

People with a history of eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia).

People with a history of alcoholism.

People with a family history of pernicious anaemia.

People diagnosed with anaemia (including iron deficiency anaemia, sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia).

People with Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gluten enteropathy (celiac disease), or any other disease that cause malabsorption of nutrients.

People with autoimmune disorders (especially thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Grave’s disease) Type 1 diabetes, vitiligo, lupus, Addison’s disease, ulcerative colitis, infertility, acquired agammaglobulinemia, or a family history of these disorders.

Women with a history of infertility or multiple miscarriages

Can you "see yourself" in any other of the above people?

I am not a medically trained person but I've had Pernicious Anaemia (a form of B12 deficiency) for more than 46 years.

I wish you well.

[nifuarain-63 in reply to clivealive]

Thank you. I do fit in several of the categories you mentioned. Am interested in seeing what comes next. I believe my doctor thinks my B 12 and high LDL are connected.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to nifuarain-63]

could be - there is a genetic polymorphism that responds to low B12 in a way that raises LDL

[fbirder in reply to Gambit62]

I’ve found how low B12 can upregulate some of the genes involved in cholesterol synthesis, but not a mutation.

Do you know what the mutation is?

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to fbirder]

sorry - was in research to a particular query about relationships between cholesterol and B12 some time ago - may have quoted paper on there but doubt I've kept a copy of it

[Marz in reply to nifuarain-63]

I think your raised LDL is connected to your Hashimotos or LOWERED metabolism and LOW B12 can be connected to LOW Ferritin - Folate - VitD too. So much is connected.

Hashimotos trashes absorption and of course you need to be optimally treated for your thyroid ....

I have read your post and replies on Thyroid UK

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

I have MMA levels that are consistently mildly raised, typically around 350-400 nmol/L ( range UK: 0 - 280 nmol/L )

Can be kidneys, if that is ruled out, can be B12 deficiency indicator or SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) - or of course both ! SIBO can be detected by Lactulose Breath Test (hydrogen) . Stichting B12 Tekort (Pinned Posts, right hand column) say slightly raised MMA in adults almost always indicates B12 deficiency, my GP says raised MMA levels very rare and she's only seen it twice in 20 years, Inherited Metabolic Diseases consultant disagrees and says that in his B12 deficient patients, he has seen it very very much higher. Also I can't maintain any sort of decent level for folate and ferritin and now have osteoporosis of spine so vitamin D needed too - as Marz suggested, good idea to have those levels checked out.

There is a strong link between Hashimoto's and Pernicious Anaemia.

[nifuarain-63]

Spoke to him yesterday. He wants me to start with 1,000 mcg supplements, if no improvement in 4-6 weeks, then injections. He's leaning more toward malabsorption issue because I have bowel issues similar to coeliac but have been tested for it three times and have been negative three times.

As an aside, I noted in another thread that someone has facial numbness in addition to hands and feet - I do as well - will be interested to see if supplements provide relief.

I will follow up on everyone's suggestions when I see the doctor face to face.