I would just like to point out that being vegetarian is not just a self induced B12 deficiency and therefore still needs to be handled in the way of P.A. when necessary. I’ve been vegetarian for over 30 years but eat dairy and eggs. Only recently (2 years) have I become B12 deficient and after being told by GP to practically go away and buy some B12 tabs (with accompanied smirk on his side) discovered that tabs made no difference whatsoever. However after another doctor gave loading doses my symptoms abated almost completely. On going back to tablet supplements the symptoms slowly returned. After speaking to the P.A. society I was told that I obviously have absorption issues and therefore injections would still be needed. I don’t like sticking a needle into myself every month, but if it works, so be it. So what I’m trying to say is that not all vegetarians with a B12 deficiency have a self induced condition as seems to be the general analogy. Not trying to cause an argument, just stating my case. Thank you for reading 
Vegetarian and absorption problem - Pernicious Anaemi...
Vegetarian and absorption problem
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You put that very well Lurcher-lady . 👍
Yes I totally agree.
I put that in my reply .
My sister a vegetarian for ?40 years same diet. Post menopausal was obviously absorbing less .
She escaped injections but had to have high oral doses.
In that scenario possibly can eat more easily absorbed forms in higher quantities if you eat meat.
I remember older generation family members favouring offal . Sometines what youv crave you need
Stil an absorbency problem as not as efficient anymore on the same diet rather thsn not being able to absorb anything like you or anyone with PA.
So posdible not stopped absorbing completely but enough to plummet b12 and get symptoms. Hence all over 50s shoukd take a basic multivit snd not rely totally on good food.
I didnt do that as was told by gp when asked a waste of money as yiubpee it all out.
Well that I now know not true . Why I asked? Should've just taken one. Then at least when ill I could have said I take supplements already. Who knows I maybe would've got a b12 injection before a brain mri? Or brain CT .
Happening alot.
Whatever diet you are on you can start to have sn absorbtion problem.
I think it's assumed dietary more often than not perhaps gps confuse vegetariandietsx with vegan??
so if symptoms not too severe worth trying oral b12 if IFA is negative .
I eat a varied good diet including alot of pulses' nuts ' diary ' eggs meat .
It was by my doctor still assumed to be dietary!
So you are not alone.
Gp's know very little about nutrition.
A friend recently who was vegan for a very short time however.
Got pains and was tested fir b12 and folate.
Needed loading doses and is completely well agsin. back on a different diet including diary and meat. completely recovered takes an oral low doses b12 to make sure .
A scare.
She says she was vegan by 'proxy as was just eating out of a Box of veg delivered weekly as some sort of cleansing the body regime. She wanted to eat more cleanly
She must've been borderline to have symptoms ,and such s low b12 as quickly as she did.
Hers was dietary
She was very lucky to have a gp that tested so quickly! Before damage was done .
She had cut out so many foods .
Another friend is vegan takes b12 supplements amongst others and is well
He knows my story.
So many reasons have to be explored .
What Gps should do though is treat first the symptoms after actually listening to what you eat.
Then explore the cause.
In my friends case . She needed tge loading doses but that was alm injection wise
I wad suprised as I thought your body came accustomed to higher b12 blood levrls yo function so hard to thrn change ontob b12 tablets ??
She did it though. Caught early?
Another subject.
I do however think Gp's test b12 quicker if you are a vegetarian or vegan.
An advantage in my books.
I think that once your body has started down that downward spiral that is nerve damage, you don’t get to return to normal with just supplements and therefore injections are required.
I’m of the opinion that PTSD induced B12 deficiency follows a similar path.
Really it doesn’t matter how it starts, your body ends up at the sane place.
In addition to getting monthly injections, are you supplementing with folic acid and a daily multivitamin?
I am not aware that anyone on this forum has suggested that B12 deficiency caused by eating a vegan diet is self-induced!
A recent post by Gambit62 made precisely the point you make - that vegans can have b12 deficiency caused by an absorption problem. In other words, it’s not safe to simply assume that B12 deficiency is caused by diet just because a vegan diet is being followed. And this is a point made often in this forum.
What has been discussed elsewhere is the fact that, with the exception of B12 issues, this forum is not a suitable place for the discussion of veganism per se - there are other fora where those discussions can take place.
Hope that clarifies and puts your mind at rest. I'm now going to close this post to further replies.
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