Is there any association with B12 deficiency and sensitivity to oxalates?

[annielou19]

I was diagnosed with B12 deficiency last year, and taking 1,000 mcg sublingual methyl B12 since then has been a miracle. Lately I think I have discovered a connection between some of my kidney and urinary discomfort symptoms and high oxalate foods (chocolate, nuts, beans, some berries, etc.). Is there any association that anyone knows of between being B12 deficient and having problems with oxalates?

[GastritisB12]

Very interesting question! Before I became deficient I used to drink juiced fruit and veg regularly and usually I put in a lot of beetroot. Never had a problem.

Now after deficiency I tried juicing some fruits and a large beetroot, had massively sore throat for two days afterwards. I tried this a few times and always sore throat straight after. I was mystified until I read about oxalates and raw beetroot is amongst the highest in content. So it would seem now I am sensitive to oxalates.

[annielou19 in reply to GastritisB12]

Thanks for sharing your experience! I wonder why this would be happening? Could it be something with our absorption issues that makes our body not as able to process the oxalates? Or something like an allergy or sensitivity? I too have had a sore tongue and throat after eating high oxalate foods like chocolate and nuts. I also ate tons of spinach and tomato sauce and never realized it could even be a problem, except I would flush with red splotchy skin after. And other issues like digestive upset and urinary system discomfort. Since ruling out these foods these issues have gotten a lot better. I have been trying to search online for a connection. I have found that there are some studies/articles connecting high oxalates with intestinal issues such as Crohn's disease, which can also be a cause of B12 deficiency -

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/675158

[annielou19 in reply to annielou19]

I should also add that I have not been diagnosed with pernicious anemia, only B12 deficiency. Negative for IF antibodies, positive for parietal cell antibodies, though a very low positive and may have nothing to do with my issues. I don’t need injections, sublingual tablets are working for me, so I am able to absorb some B12 although not enough to keep me at a healthy level without supplements. I also tend to be low in Vitamin D. Maybe I’m getting a bit closer to the root cause of my health problems.

[GastritisB12 in reply to annielou19]

Thanks for posting the article. I too have negative IF, positive Parietal cell antibodies but quite low. I do have intestinal metaplasia finding from biopsy.

My docs concluded I probably do have PA and wrote it into the report to my GP.

[teebeevee]

Long before I came up positive for Intrinsic Factor Antibody and found out I have PA, I knew I had an oxalate problem. Going on a low oxalate diet was one of the few things that helped me before diagnosis, stopped severe joint pain I'd been limping around with for a long time. I gather you can "hyperabsorb" oxalates from your diet if you have leaky gut, etc. And I believe Pernicious Anemia, which is a disease of the stomach after all, means your system does not handle or break down food well and leaky gut follows and thus problems with things like oxalates, salicylates, other plant food chemicals. I found that addressing B12 levels was only the first part of dealing with problems from PA, it addressed a big deal of the neurological issues, but I still have unresolved problems. I am now focusing on a mostly meat diet that is helping with inflammatory issues. Or so it seems...

[annielou19 in reply to teebeevee]

That is so interesting - thanks for sharing! My problems may have gotten worse in the last year because I was trying to eat what I thought was a healthier and more sustainable plant-based diet, not as much meat. But, as you know there are many plant foods full of oxalates and cutting back on high oxalate foods has really seemed to help me. I had a realization about oxalates one night after I eaten a large amount of blueberries and dark chocolate, followed by terrible throbbing pain in one of my kidneys. Started researching online and made the connection between some troublesome foods and my issues.

These absorption issues seem quite complicated, and I get no help from doctors since many of the issues aren't measurable. I have had problems for so long but didn't get anywhere until last year when I got so bad I was anemic and losing my eyesight. B12 has been a miracle, and I am thankful for this forum where everyone can share their experiences! I will look up salicylates as well.