Frequent b12 injections and ferritin

[WorkingProgress]

Hello all.... will frequent b12 injections EOD or say twice weekly lower your ferritin levels or iron in the body?

Thank you

[fbirder]

No.

[WorkingProgress in reply to fbirder]

Thank you. There is so much erroneous info out there . I am guessing the only thing it lowers is homocysteine levels which is good.

[fbirder in reply to WorkingProgress]

My earlier reply was done just before bed. Here's an actual explanation.

B12 is important in several processes. One of these is the formation of red blood cells. To produce RBCs several other things are needed, including iron, folate and potassium.

When a B12 deficiency, with macrocytic (large cell) anaemia, is first treated the body goes into a burst of making new cells. This can lower the levels of those three components for a few weeks. Because the body doesn't keep large supplies of potassium, the levels of that can drop significantly. So it's important that potassium levels are monitored for those three weeks, although hardly any doctor seems to actually do this.

Levels of folate and iron do not drop significantly because the body has relatively large stores.

Because B12, iron, folate and potassium are involved in making RBCs some people have got the idea that frequent injections of B12 will deplete amounts of potassium iron and folate. But that's nonsense. There is only increased production of RBCs for the first few weeks after treatment starts. After that the rate of RBC manufacture drops back to normal, as does the body's requirement for iron, potassium and folate.

I'll guess that you have read somebody who has made that mistake, thinking that taking extra B12 means you need extra iron, folate and potassium.

[WorkingProgress in reply to fbirder]

Fantastic answer and as always very clear concise and well explained. There are many that are mega dosing on folic acid every day also magnesium and iron who must surely feel horrible. I am a great believer in slow and steady wins the race especially in the human body. Thank you again Mr fbirder.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

MMA, which can be raised to quite high levels while waiting to link up with B12, should drop back into range once B12 replete - the initial loading dose should do it.