Odd results after supplements?

[Pinky3]

Would anyone be able to comment on why despite supplementing for two month my B12 Active result has gone down?

Feb results 91.7 (37.5-187.5)

March result 51.5 (37.5-187.5)

Daily tablet of methylcobalamin 1000mcg

My latest vitamin d has also gone down despite having a spray daily 3000 + k2. Sept 2020 result was 100 and March result was 58. I make daily outdoor visits to sit in the sun and eat salmon.

My folate was low so I have supplement with folate for a while and it has gone from 4.71 to 19.8 since feb of this year (3.89-19.45)

Ferritin 82.4 in feb and now 77 (13-150)

Back in feb I had methylmalonic acid tested which was 18.8 (0-32)

Intrinsic factor was 0.95 (0-1.53)

I had these tested as my total B12 last dec was 289. This is when I started to supplement with the B12.

So I’m slightly baffled as to why some of my results have decreased even with supplements?

Any advice would be really helpful, thank you

[Nackapan]

Have you an absorbtion problem? My vitamin D dropped to 21 . The supplement was too low dor my needs I had ti have a loading doses prescribed. . Yiu have to exposed quirecalit of torso in the sun. Most of us cant at that time of year.

Ferritin levels can vary. Yours are good though .

You havrny a total serum b12 to compare.

How are you actually feeling?

As you are 'in range ' for all results apart from bit D coukd be better mine was down last test. Time if year o think despite taking a supplement.

[Pinky3 in reply to Nackapan]

Thank you for replying. I’ve been on a journey to find out why I’m feeling various symptoms, general tiredness, teary, mood swings, pins and needle in fingers, aching bones, gone off food, fatigue easily, odd velvety skin etc.

Maybe I should change the vitamin d supplement?

A few others results were out like the mchc and mch.

I have raised testosterone of 1.5 not sure of ranges but doctor said it was slightly raised. Apart from that all other results that have been checked were in range.

I have no idea if I have an absorption problem but at least I can ask on the next appointment as it’s seems as though I do.

[marigold111 in reply to Pinky3]

try b12 shots. They go directly into your blood .

[Nackapan in reply to Pinky3]

Isnt velvety skin linked with thyroid problems.?? Other symptoms overlap with many other problems. I hope you can work it out.

[Hedgeree]

Hi Pinky3,

Did the doctor not properly discuss your blood test results with you?

If you're able to I'd get an appointment with them and ask about the MMA test result.

Also the others that you said were out, mchc and mch; were they low or high in the range?

If you have access to your results on-line, you'll be able to see the results and their ranges. Some surgery's provide this service but you'll need to register for online access. Ask them about it.

If not it is a very good idea to get the surgery to provide a print out of your results.

Some surgery's are more helpful than others; but it's important for you to have these results in full.

Also when you get the results and ranges you can post them on here (starting a new post) and the helpful and knowledgeable forum members can advise you.

I'm not a medic but your results suggest that you may have a problem absorbing your supplements and you may need to have B12 injections but your gp needs to discuss this with you.

Take care.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

Methylmalonic acid (MMA) level - it seems to be mid-range. Ferritin and folate look good too.

Despite frequent B12 injections, my MMA was raised for three years before it settled down to a normal level (in range of 0-280 nmol/L).

My results prior to that were always between 350-400 nmol/L, the sixth test, by DNA consultants in Adult Metabolic Diseases department, finally showed 205 in 2019.

The first test was requested by GP who suspected functional B12 deficiency when not responsive to B12 injections- that was confirmed by the testing hospital lab.

The next four were all done by a haematology department.

If B12 deficiency is not addressed at all, MMA can rise to very high levels. B12 and MMA link together at some point (as you can tell, I'm no scientist) as part of the required process within the body, so if there is little or no B12 there to meet it, MMA will build up in bloodstream. This problem rectifies itself as soon as B12 is replete - so the loading dose should bring the MMA back to normal levels quite rapidly. Then if it doesn't, it would indicate a functional B12 deficiency .

There are other reasons for raised MMA: small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is one, and involves a fasting breath test, and renal problems are another- which can be ruled out with a blood test. The MMA test is used as a reliable secondary initial indicator for B12 deficiency where there is doubt from a serum B12 test, as it would be high prior to B12 injections. Probably not infallible though. SIBO bacteria feed off B12 and other vitamins and usually treated by antibiotics, but can be a recurring issue.

Although your MMA appears "normal", your active B12 levels seem to have taken quite a drop over a short period, despite all your best efforts. A good GP would not wish you to drop further before acting on that, surely ? Are all these tests being requested by your GP ?

Intrinsic Factor antibody test result is usually expressed as "negative" or "positive", and is often thought of as the test for pernicious anaemia. Only about half those with PA have a positive result.