Absorption of B12

[Darran1]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post and I have a some questions regarding absorption of B12. I have had Crohn's since since I was 24 and now I am 47. I have had a terminal ileostomy for 15 years and 7 years ago I had another 9 inches of my small bowel removed due to the disease. I have had B12 injections in the past due to the usual problems we get when it is low. My question is, due to the fact I have no ileum, so my ability to absorb B12 is limited, would I still benifit from Sublingual forms of administering the B12? or will my body still need the intrinsic factor (intrinsic factor is a glycoprotein secreted by parietal (humans) or chief (rodents) cells of the gastric mucosa. In humans, it has an important role in the absorption of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in the intestine, and failure to produce or utilise intrinsic factor results in the condition pernicious anaemia). to absorb it?

Does anyone have experience of this. Thank you for reading

Darran

[fbirder]

Some people will say that you will do absolutely fine with the sublingual B12.

I believe that it would be useless.

B12, bound to Intrinsic Factor, is only absorbed in the ileum. As you have no ileum you cannot absorb B12 bound to Intrinsic Factor.

Some people believe that B12 can be absorbed sublingually, or that it can be absorbed passively, without any Intrinsic Factor. If that were true then you wouldn't need injections (and nor would I).

All I can suggest is - suck it (literally) and see.

[Nackapan]

Hello.

Some one else recently posted whi has had an ileostomy. I hope they see your post.

Many others on here know far more than me.

Injections I think are the bet way for you.

You can absorb sone b12 passively but nothe sure that will be enough.

Hope others will come along soon with more info.

Meanwhile I hope you gain from joining the forum. I have learnt lots.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

in theory large amounts of B12 flooding the gut can result in enough B12 being absorbed by passive absorption.

I don't think anyone knows how passive absorption works - studies imply that it averages at 1%. There haven't really been any large scale studies but there have been some small scale studies and some literature reviews that looked at people who had different B12 absorption problems (including PA) and how passive absorption worked ... it works for some people and it doesn't work for others - seems to be somewhere around 20-30% that it doesn't work for.

Studies imply that sublingual may be marginally more efficient than high dose oral but it's extremely marginal - difference between just over 1% and just under 1% so in practical terms no real difference.

All you can really do is try it and see.

[Darran1 in reply to Gambit62]

thank you