Is B12 deficiency due to malabsorption extremely rare?

[zheshi14]

What % of people do you think?

[wedgewood]

I don’t think it is extremely rare . The medical profession is so badly informed about it , so figures are underestimated . I have P.A. and it look me ages to get a diagnosis . I was forced to go to a private doctor to get the diagnosis, in spite of severe symptoms . I now believe , with all the knowledge I now have of the symptoms, that my mother died of PA . It is a very slow horrible death . Towards the end, an awful kind of dementia . Unfortunately at the time I had no knowledge of P.A. So I believe it is not extremely rare .

[Alfabeta in reply to wedgewood]

My mother was the same.

[wedgewood in reply to Alfabeta]

Yes , it was awful to witness , wasn’t it ? It seems incredible, that there is so little interest from the medical profession in this horrible condition. I have my own views as to the reason , which I cannot voice on here . But it is a scandal . We are so lucky to have the PAS . and Martyn Hooper .

[fbirder]

It's certainly becoming a lot more common.

First it does seem that doctors are becoming more aware of Pernicious Anaemia as something other than a cause of macrocytic anaemia, albeit slowly. But that just increases the rate of diagnosis. I think the actual rate of PA in the population is going to be around 1 or 2%.

What will be increasing the actual rate of malabsorption is the ever-increasing use of various drugs, specifically PPIs and metformin.

[e66-- in reply to fbirder]

Could I possibly ask you, does everyone who has chemo end up with a subsequent B12 absorption problem? My friend had breast cancer and was cured 2 years ago, but now she feels utterly exhausted a lot of the time with lots of upset stomach symptoms. I said i'd try and get her some information. Many thanks in advance.

[fbirder in reply to e66--]

I no of no connection between chemotherapy and B12 absorption.

[e66-- in reply to fbirder]

Thank you for your response, it all helps. Enjoy sunshine.

[Marz in reply to e66--]

Chemo also affects the thyroid and reduces it efficiency. One of the causes of post surgical depression too. Ensure the correct tests are carried out - TSH - FT4 - FT3 and Anti-TPo and Tg. Rarely are they all done in the NHS. Private Testing available from Thyroid UK - click onto About Testing in the link below ...

thyroiduk.org

It happened to a friend of mine after breast surgery and treatment - when tested her thyroid activity was VERY low.

Also the website below is run by a lady who treated her breast cancer with VitD to aid recovery ... Level needs to be around 100 in the UK. The site is American.

grassrootshealth.net

Being Hypo can affect the absorption of B12 and vital nutrients due to a lowered metabolism ...

[e66-- in reply to Marz]

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR KIND REPLY. I WILL PASS ON ALL THE INFORMATION TO HER. AT LEAST I CAN GUIDE HER IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HAVE A GREAT DAY.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to e66--]

a few chemotherapy drugs can interfere with metabolism of folate (think methotrexate is one) and I think there is one that can interfere with the metabolism of B12. However, if it is 2 years since treatment that shouldn't be a factor.

There are, however, a lot of things that will cause tiredness and B12 is just one of them. I think your friend really needs to take professional medical advice.

[e66-- in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you so much Gambit62, I will pass it all on to her in the hope she feels better soon.

[DelMegJJ]

The NICE CKS guidelines for B12 deficiency actually states that under the age of 60 the incidence is 11%. Over 60 it is 20%. That gets higher the older we are. These guidelines are for medical professionals I wonder how many actually read them.