More questions

[sea55red]

Any of you clever people on here able to explain how/why the loading doses aren't enough?

Briefly, my limited understanding is that a healthy body will store enough B12 to keep a person going for a couple of years, at least. If you can't absorb or don't have the right diet then this will be depleted. I read somewhere that the liver stores about 1000 mcg of B12. So 6 injections of 1000 mcg should, in theory, top up the liver and the rest will be excreted. So why, when I was having the injections, 27 hours later I could feel the effects wearing off and the symptoms recurring? What is the body doing with the B12??? Any ideas?

[fbirder]

I wish I knew.

Part of the storage of B12 involves enterohepatic recirculation. B12 is eliminated in the bile into the duodenum. There it binds with Intrinsic Factor made in the stomach. The IF-B12 passes through the small intestine to the ileum where it is absorbed.

But if you have PA then there is no IF and the B12 just passes straight through.

I'm not sure how much is eliminated in the bile, but it might go some way to explaining the problem.

[sea55red in reply to fbirder]

How on earth can we ever get enough then? I supposedly have ME/CFS but I am beginning to think it has always been a B12 problem. I read somewhere about ME/CFS sufferers producing too much nitrous oxide and B12 is the main thing that mops it up. If I have local anesthetic (nitrous oxide) I can go from relatively normal to not being able to stand up i a matter of minutes . Bizarre.

[Sleepybunny in reply to sea55red]

Link about nitrous oxide

Nitrous Oxide

gov.uk/drug-safety-update/n...

Nitrous oxide inactivates B12 in the body.

ME/CFS and B12 deficiency

b12deficiency.info/misdiagn...

martynhooper.com/2018/02/10...

Loading doses are used to get levels of B12 in the blood raised quickly but I think sustained long term b12 treatment is needed for improvement in many symptoms associated with B12 deficiency.

I think if you've been b12 deficient for a long time there may be nerve damage which could take a long period of treatment to heal . Some people on forum report improvements even after years of treatment. Sadly for some there may be some permanent damage.

I wrote a detailed reply with links to b12 books, b12 websites, UK B12 documents etc in this next link. There may be some useful info for you in it.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

I am not medically trained.

[sea55red in reply to Sleepybunny]

It is slowly beginning to make some sense.

In 2005 - yes 2005! - my B12 was tested and it was 165. No action was taken.

I react really badly to local anesthetic for dental work. I can walk into the dentists looking 'normal' and am on the point of collapse afterwards.

[fbirder in reply to sea55red]

Local anaesthetics should have no effect of B 12 levels. It's only nitrous oxide (Entonox or 'gas and air') that can inactivate B12.