Low vitamins?

[Clouisex]

Hello I recently had a Thriva blood test and my results show my vitamin B12 and D are low and also my folate.. would taking multivitamins every day be enough to bring these levels up? My results say 135 for B12, 50 for vitamin D and 6.9 for folate. Also I took this test due to a severe lack of energy, do you think these results could be enough to make me feel so tired? Thankyou

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Clouisex what is your diet like?

Eating meat fish and eggs is good for naturally sourcing vitamins B12 and D and leafy green vegetables, sprouts, broccoli, spinach, asparagus, peas, beans etc. will provide you with Folate.

How old are you? What medications are you on? Have you had a y gastric surgery?

I am not medically trained

[Clouisex in reply to clivealive]

Hello thankyou for your reply, I do eat fish and eggs regularly and also enjoy my vegetables. I’m 23 years old and iv had no surgery or health problems that I know of

Thankyou

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Clouisex]

Low vitamin B12 may be the cause of your symptoms of lack of energy and tiredness.

I suggest you let your doctor see the report that came back with the test. We store "several years worth" of B12 in our liver and like a car battery which only needs a trickle charge to keep it topped up, your diet should be sufficient to keep your B12 level O.K.

What was the range <from -- to> alongside the 135 quoted?

Do you take antacids, have had antibiotics recently or used nitrous oxide for "recreational purposes"?

[Clouisex in reply to clivealive]

Hello the results have a red box which says <145, then a green box that says 250-569 (normal range) and then >569 I’m not sure how to explain these properly sorry

I haven’t taken any antacids or medication, and no nitrous oxide

Thankyou for your reply

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Clouisex]

According to the test results you are Vitamin B12 deficient.

I think you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as you can and ask to have your serum B12, Folate and Iron tested.

Symptoms of B12 deficiency tend to develop slowly and may not be recognised immediately. As the condition worsens, common symptoms include:

Weakness and fatigue

Light-headedness and dizziness

Palpitations and rapid heartbeat

Shortness of breath

A sore tongue that has a red, beefy appearance

Nausea or poor appetite

Weight loss

Diarrhoea

Yellowish tinge to the skin and eyes

If low levels of B12 remain for a long time, the condition also can lead to irreversible damage to nerve cells, which can cause the following symptoms:

Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet

Difficulty walking

Muscle weakness

Irritability

Memory loss

Dementia

Depression

Psychosis

Make a list of your symptoms together with a note of your diet that you do eat meat and vegetables.

I would be cautious about mentioning the Thriva blood test but that will be up to you, depending on what your relationship with him/her is, as sometimes they can be a bit awkward about "private" tests.

Please remember that I am not a medically trained person but I've had Pernicious Anaemia (just one of many causes of B12 deficiency) for more than 46 years.

I wish you well.

[Clouisex in reply to clivealive]

Hello thanks your your information and advice, I did end up going to the doctors and he decided to take the tests again, also taking more tests and test for coeliac

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Clouisex]

Please let us know how you get on.

Take care now.

[Nackapan]

B12 does seem low them. Salmon clams liver fortified cereals crabs cheese diary also very good source. Your multivitamin will have it in too perhaps. Hope that works for you.

Of course stress stops absorbtion and lack of sleep and alcohol . So if you think you may be doing too much slow down a bit. Only suggestions. I wish you well

[Clouisex in reply to Nackapan]

Thankyou for your advice