Homocysteine Test

[flfair]

Hi all,

I’m going having a Homocysteine test, I started taking b12 oral about two months ago, will it affect the test and should I stop taking it.

Thanks

[fbirder]

It will affect the test if - you were hoping to use the test to diagnose a B12 deficiency and you can absorb oral B12. If you cannot absorb oral B12 then the test will be unaffected.

So the test will tell you something.

If the levels of hCys are high then either - you cannot absorb oral B12, or - you have a folate deficiency (or both). Or there's a much more unusual problem going on.

If the levels of hCys are normal then you can absorb oral B12 and you do not have a folate deficiency.

[flfair in reply to fbirder]

Thanks fbirder, would you recommend I should stop taking supplements till after the test, I have a lot of symptoms and enlarged red blood cells.

[fbirder in reply to flfair]

If you're going to stop then you need to wait another couple of months to make sure the B12 you may have absorbed is cleared from your system, and that levels of B12 have been low enough, for long enough for hCys levels to rise.

[Seth12345 in reply to flfair]

What are you looking to gain by taking the test? Do you want to have a baseline measure to see if the level drops in the future?

If you have enlarged red blood cells that would suggest you might have an advanced form of B-12 deficiency. You should work with a hematologist to understand this. I would also think you need to get your levels up quickly, and injections might be the best way.

[flfair in reply to Seth12345]

Seth12345

I have essential thrombocythaemia (ET), I had a heart attack about ten years ago when I was diagnosed with ET, I am working with a hematologist.

I have blood tests every three months and the RDW are always above the range and highlighted and the haemoglobin are at the bottom of the range. I serum B12 was 460 (180-914) and Folate 11.7 (3.1-19.9).

I have a lot of symptoms and I suggested to her I might have Macrocytic anaemia that is why I am having the test.

Thanks

[Gambit62 Administrator]

homocysteine is raised if folate is low or B12 is low - so having use supplements probably will affect the results as fbirder says.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Gambit62]

macrocytic anaemia is a symptom of B12 deficiency - also folate deficiency.

homocysteine is a clarifying test is serum B12 isn't conclusive

What does are the tablets you are taking?

[flfair in reply to Gambit62]

I’ve been taking 3000mcg Methyl and 3000mcg Adenosyl which contains 600mcg folic acid a day, two weeks after starting a noticed some improvement in symptoms, I stopped taking them yesterday and today I can feel the symptoms returning.

I think I also have nerve damage.

Thanks

[Cherylclaire Forum Support in reply to flfair]

Methylmalonic acid (MMA) is usually considered a more reliable test for B12 deficiency than homocysteine, and an earlier marker.

I'm not a scientist, so this is my very basic understanding of what happens:

MMA links to B12 so if B12 is missing, MMA accumulates in the blood- sometimes to very high levels.

Once B12 is replaced, MMA should quickly fall to levels within range: 0-280 nmol/L.

If not, there is a functional B12 deficiency problem, a B12 deficiency or small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) -which rob you of your B12 (among other vitamins).

A hydrogen breath test can then determine whether SIBO is the culprit.

This all sounds very clear- cut, but of course this isn't always the case:

My MMA tests all showed raised MMA of between 350-400 nmol/L - "raised" but not sufficiently high to cofirm a suspected functional B12 deficiency - and concluded to be "my normal" .

Subsequent SIBO test was inconclusive - showing either SIBO or IBS. Antibiotics trial (for SIBO) produced adverse reaction. After that ? Nothing changed - and nothing was decided regarding diagnosis or treatment.

[flfair in reply to Cherylclaire]

Okay Cherylclaire, thanks for that.

[fbirder in reply to Cherylclaire]

MMA can also be raised in cases of kidney disease. So tests need to be done to rule that out as well.

[flfair in reply to fbirder]

I’ve had to start taking the supplements again, I have a muscle at the top of my left leg which goes into cramp and spasms and a burning sensation down the bottom of the same leg, after half a hour of taking the supplements the symptoms improved, so I must be absorbing some of the b12.

I have all of the equipment to start self injecting but my wife is concerned I have a bad reaction.

Thanks