From the PAS.
A study published in JAMA Network Open discovered that “Older women who take high doses of vitamin B6 combined with high doses of B12 are at increased risk of hip fracture, according to Harvard and University of Oslo researchers…The authors made a special note that TAKING VITAMIN B12 ALONE DOES NOT RAISE THE ODDS OF HIP FRACTURE” (Emphasis added)
Thank you for the info 
Interesting. However when there is, according to the primary finding, just a 3.03% chance of a post menopausal women having a hip fracture. That was during the follow-up period of 20 years. They also do admit the link between B12 and hip fracture is insignificant whereas the link between B6 and hip fracture is significant however with a risk factor overall of just 3% significant is perhaps not a word which should be emphasised.
The concern about any such findings is that a quick scan of the conclusions sees significant, it also sees B12 and hip fracture so it doesn't take long for the worst connotation to be fixed in minds. Add to that the supposed authority associated with the organisation responsible for the study.
I will admit I am not in the possible sample group as I am male. I don't see any significance in this study as the numbers are insignificant.
No. When a scientific study says the results are 'significant' it has a particular meaning.
In medical studies it means that the chances that the observed effect is coincidental is just 5%. You will see results followed by a probability description something like P<0.05.
P<0.05 means there is a 5% chance the result is coincidence. Anything better than this is significant.
P<0.01 means there is a 1% chance that the result is coincidence. That's very significant.
So, when they say the link is 'significant' they do not mean 'serious' or 'important' they mean 'probably real'.
Sadly the press and most people would consider significant to be exactly that. Significant - sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy. 3.03% over a period of over 20 years is hardly worth comment let alone significance. It would be a tragedy if NICE were to pull prescriptions because of a scientifically significant risk when it doesn't amount to much at all
Fortunately, NICE decisions are made by panels that include a lot of people who know what 'significant' means.
It's a real shame that journalists aren't taught rudimentary scientificese. Like when you read that taking drug X increases the risk of side-effect Y by 10%. Sounds scary. Until you realise that the risk of side-effect Y rises from one in a thousand to 1.1 in a thousand - not so scary.
Agreed. The popular tabloids are good at saying there has been a multiplying of incidences giving the impression of major changes afoot when incidence has gone from 1 to 2.
On another matter, if I may be so bold, I would value your opinion. I have been battling Peripheral Neuropathy for over 2 years now. Although I have had relief from injections there has always been a recurance a few days later, paticularly of pins and needles and electric shocks in hands and feet. This last few days has seen a 'significant change in this as I started having a nerve in my left heel firing short stabs every 20 seconds or so. Nothing would alleviate it. I even tried a further injection after two days without success. It was still there last night when I eventually drifted off in the early hours. Now, this morning, it has finally gone but my feet are feeling as if they belong to me. Walking without shoes has been painful but this isn't now the case and my feet feel warm to me from inside without checking them, it feels as if there has been some real change to the nerves in my feet.
Have you come across this?
My neuropathy isn't caused by a B12 deficiency, so my experiences probably aren't too relevant.
I do get the evil pixie with the red-hot needle that periodically stabs my feet - normally my big toes, but it can be anywhere. And it always feels as if I'm walking on gravel.
But before I started taking alpha lipoic acid (3 x 600 mg a day) the evil pixie was a lot more active and some days it felt as if I was walking on broken glass. I take gabapentin for the pain and, before the ALA, I would have to take codeine when the pixie was feeling really evil, just to sleep.
I presume you're being seen by a neurologist. If not then I would insist on a referral.
I have a referral to a neurologist on April 6th next year. This is after 2 and a half years of discussing neuropathy. They only got interested when the decided I was diabetic last November, my blood sugar was 5.5. After loosing 2stone and cutting out all sugar it was 4.3 in March. So I reintroduced sugar and sweeties and the next blood test it was 4.3. I don't reckon I was diabetic. But the podiatrist found Peripheral Neuropathy and the nurse atrial fibrillation so now I can see a neurologist. If this improvement is from the B12 then there's not going to much for him to examine by then.
Sorry if I have broken into your thread. It is most annoying not to be able to discuss these matters with the GP.
What do you think about this very recent one: jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...?
I think that it shows that people are dying from something that raises their serum B12. They, themselves, mention cancer as a possibility, but do not give it the emphasis that it deserves.
That's reassuring. So we don't need to stop injecting? 
High b12 news
B12 Deficiency and Dry Eyes
B6 level is high
B12 and Diclofenac
Information about B12 deficiency from Stichting B12 Tekort and the B12 Research Institute
