Borderline

[Mx143]

My GP says I am borderline but that test was in January, she says I just need to take some b12 3 times a day and see how I feel. I don't feel borderline. Anybody else had this from GPs

[Foggyme Administrator]

Mx143. We regularly hear of GP's who advise those with 'borderline' serum B12 levels to take oral supplements. Oral B12 prescriptions in the UK are only licenceed for 50mcg tablets and these are only suitable for those who have a dietary defiency (i.e. vegetarians / vegans). They are not suitable for those who have B12 defiency due to absorption issues (the causes of which are many), and that's the majority of those who are B12 deficient.

In addition, 'bordeline' deficiency is a tricky concept, since deficiency can exist even if B12 levels are within the 'normal' reference range. What matters is symptoms and causes (i.e. dietary v absorption). Certainly, if you have neurolgical symptoms, then all guidelines recommend treatment via B12 injections. U.K. guidelines also recommend that B12 deficiency for causes other than dietary is via B12 injection. So, unless your GP has established beyond doubt that your deficiency is due to dietary causes, the you should be treated with B12 injections.

Here's some information about the use of oral supplements:

b12researchgroup.wordpress.... (Serious Caution Note about the use of Oral and Sublingual B12 Supplements)

Also - worth asking your surgery for a print out of your serum B12 results and the reference ranges (the figures in brackets after the result). Doctors often say results are 'borderline' or normal, when they’re not. If you want to post your results and reference ranges in a new post when you get them, folks here can help with interpretation. It's your right to have copies of blood results and most receptionist will print them out for you (some make a very small charge for this, but most don't).

If you read all the information in the links contained in the fourth and fifth PAS pinned posts to the right of this page (or at the bottom if using a phone), this will give you more information about the diagnosis and treatment of B12 deficiency.

Suggest if you have neurological symptoms then discuss this with your doctor ASAP because you will need an intensive course of B12 injections to prevent potentially irreversible neurological damage (six x loading doses given over two weeks, and then injections every alternate day until no further improvement).

Likewise, if you do not think that the cause is dietary, then go back to your doctor, taking information from the pinned posts, and ask to be prescribed B12 injections.

Post again if you need further information or help getting appropriate treatment from your doctor.

Good luck 👍