Deficiency improved drastically

[Luac]

Hi,

I've been charting my b12 journey here since September and I think I have had a breakthrough.

With neurological and gastro symptons I was referred to a gastroenterologist last october and started self injecting every two days around that time.

By January I could manage every three days before symptoms came back, pins and needles in both hands were a main indicator for me.

Injections were working really well - life changingly well!

Mid Feb, I was prescribed Creon to take with my food as gastro tests discovered low faecal elastase which indicates issues with enzymes in the pancreas used to process food.

Since taking Creon, my need for b12 injections changed dramatically and immediately.

Since Feb 12th, I was able to change injections to every two weeks and then monthly since mid march.

I had an injection today just in case - I was a little tingly over the weekend and am a bit foggy but it isnt as bad as it had been.

Is any one aware of Creon improving b12 deficiency?

I hope it is connected.

I am to have an mri once we are back to normality.

[fbirder]

I can see how a pancreatic abnormality could cause a B12 deficiency, and that pancreatic enzymes could help fix it.

B12 in food will be bound either to proteins in the food or haptocorrins (also proteins) released in the saliva. Normally the B12 is released from these proteins by pancreatic proteases in the duodenum, leaving it free to react with Intrinsic Factor (made in the stomach) and capable of being absorbed in the ileum.

If you're not producing these protein-digesting enzymes then you cannot absorb B12 in food. Not can you absorb the B12 eliminated by the liver, because that is also bound to haptocorrin.

It's possible that the Creon is allowing you to absorb B12 in food, and to efficiently recycle it. That continuous addition of B12 to your blood may be the reason why you don't need your injections so frequently.

[helvella in reply to fbirder]

Is release of B12 from IF affected by pH?

I believe that levothyroxine absorption might be impaired when the pH of the jejunum/ileum are too low. And if, in a healthy person, the B12 absorption is primarily in a part of the gut that is alkaline, maybe the pH is an important part of the requirement?

[fbirder in reply to helvella]

B12 is released from IF in the cells of the ileum. Did you mean to ask about splitting of B12 and HC?

If so, the answer is yes. Pancreatic juice is alkaline and the high pH is needed to activate the proteases.

[Thulasi1]

Hi , do you have PA?

[Luac in reply to Thulasi1]

It was never diagnosed but i have had deficient b12 reading and a lot of symptoms that went when treated with injections.

[Hidden]

I have PA and I also have Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency. I’m told by my gastro they are not related as he says most of his PA patients don’t have it and his EPI patients don’t normally have PA. so I guess I’m in the minority like you although EPI is not always diagnosed. I take Creon 25000 x 2 with each meal and 1 with a snack. My dysbiosis is as bad as it ever was over the last 2 years. I SI every 2 days and have done only for about 3 weeks so will continue with it, inspired by your improvements!

All the best.