MMA Test...is urine or blood best?

[jamjar67]

I am going to get a private MMA Test done to try and clarify if I have a B12 deficiency as my Dr refused to test m. I have a few questions...

Should I buy the blood or urine MMA Test?

Should I only do the Homocysteine if the MMA test is high?

Do I need to stop any supplements beforehand ? - I currently take B vits + B12, Vit D, K2, Magnesium, Omega 3, Selenium, Iron, turmeric

Also I have been taking a high strength B12 by a company called Prohealth Vit B12 Extreme, these were advised by a Functional Medical Practitioner who told me that if these didn’t work after a week then my problem is not B12 🤔

I have Hashimotos Hypothyroid and my symptoms are a weird feeling in my head like being on a boat and ringing in my ears - the ringing in the ears completely stopped a few times when I took the last course of the Pro health Extreme B12 and although the boat like feeling didn’t go it felt much better on some days..., since the tablets ended (about a week or so ago) my symptoms are worse 🤔

I was previously advised to have these tests on this site and had hoped my Dr would help but no such luck and therefore I have had to wait until I can afford to buy the tests as expensive - so want to ensure I buy the correct thing.

Many Thanks 🙏

[fbirder]

There's no real advantage of one over the other.

Your 'functional' doctor is wrong. You can take as many superdooper-ultra-mega-high strength B12 tablets as you like. If you have a significant absorption problem then they will do nothing. Also, expecting a B12 supplement to work within a week is laughable. Indeed, the experience of many of us is that your symptoms can actually get worse when you start successfully treating a B12 deficiency.

What supplements you take, and what tests you have done, depends on what you are trying to find out. If you are trying to find out if you have a B12 deficiency, despite taking all those supplements then you should carry on taking the supplements.

If you want to check on folate status as well as B12 then you should go for a homocysteine test as well.

[jamjar67 in reply to fbirder]

Hi Fbirder....Thanks for your reply....FYI I have copied a post which I put on Thyroid UK in Apr, my folate and B12 look ok to me but I had been taking sublingual B12, so I’d have thought I must be absorbing it? however due to my symptoms (mainly the head and ringing in the ears) I have been advised to try a loading dose of B12 (from several people now) because it might not be getting to the cells 🤔 (I am trying to determine if I need to inject or if supplements would be ok...

Also the latter symptoms on my post have now disappeared so it’s the ringing in the ears and feeling like on a boat which are concerning me,, I sometimes get joint pain and a slight prickling sensation in my face and arms/fingers... but this comes and goes the head thing is constant...

Recently I had a day on the beach and I almost felt normal, had no ringing whatsoever and the boat feeling was very slight - this was whilst taking the high strength B12, I’ve since run out and - not sure if it’s just coincidence 🤔. It was so nice to feel normal even though it was short lived...

My Dr has referred me to ENT (not sure what use that will be )

If I’m honest I’m scared to inject incase I have some sort of reaction and would have liked to be in a medical setting for the 1st time should anything happen - I know it’s unlikely but I’ve always been terrified of taking stuff - I was the same when I started Levo - I’m a nightmare!!!

Levo Dose alternate 100/75mcg

Taken early morn before medication, fasting and omitting all vits a week prior

Current symptoms

Ringing in ears

Weird balance feeling

Sometimes:-

V. Cold

Tingling in fingers

Heart palps (odd time)

Cold hands

Had episode of Raynauds

Had allergic reaction to Vit C (took too much) hot red face for an hour...this has happened 2 more times but not because of Vit C unsure what caused it...

I can see my Ferritin needs improvement

It has been suggested to me to try a loading dose injecting B12 ( my levels look to have increased since starting sublingual B12 so is injecting necessary?

Not sure what to do now to address other symptoms??

Advice really appreciated x

5/4/19

TSH 0.264 (0.27 - 4.2)

FT3. 4.51. 3.1-6.8

FT4. 21.4. 12-22

Active B12. 155. (37.5 - 188)

Folate. 19.8 (3.89 - 26.8)

Vit D. 85.8. (50 -175)

Ferritin. 48. (13-150)

CRP 0.89. <5

5/2/19

Levo dose 50/75mcg

TSH 2.34. (0.27 - 4.2)

FT3. 4.43. 3.1-6.8

FT4. 15.6 12-22

Active B12. 123. (37.5 - 188)

Folate. 14.48 (3.89 - 26.8)

Vit D. 97.1. (50 -175)

Ferritin. 14.1. (13-150)

[EllieMayNot]

According to a few sources, there may be some benefit of the urinary test over the blood test for MMA (Dr. Eric Norman of Norman Clinical Labs claims that MMA is 40 times more concentrated in the urine than the blood). The MMA marker would be specific for B12, the homocysteine is not specific to B12. I totally agree with fbirder on the advice from your functional doctor being laughable. Sadly, far too few medical practitioners have a solid understanding of PA/B12d, which is why we are all here!

Best of luck in getting solid answers!

[jamjar67 in reply to EllieMayNot]

Thank you for your reply - I didn't pay the FMP as I didn't feel she really knew what she was on about and wont be going back - I'll get the urine test and see what that shows and come back and post then hopefully if people think I need the Homocysteine they will advise.... how lost would we be without everybodys knowledge on these sites!!!! Very grateful !!