Medical article describing many aspects of B12 deficiency

[WiscGuy]

Many of the brief reviews of medical literature at the beginnings of medical journal articles are rife with error. This article, in contrast, broadly and, as far as I am able to tell, accurately describes many, many aspects associated with B12 deficiency.

mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/18/9694

[wedgewood]

I do agree with you WiscGuy . An excellent article . I’ve printed it out for future reference , Thank you very much .

[WIZARD6787]

Thank you for that!

[Technoid]

Thanks Wiscguy, some good nuggets here such as the typical B12 content of various foods, increased bioavailability from some (not sure why this is, probably need to read the references) and I appreciated the detail on recommended intakes which agrees with what I've read elsewhere about something around 6mcg being optimal maintenance intake for those with working intrinsic factor.

I have not read all the case reports in the study but I do see that they generally assume an accuracy of the B12 serum test to diagnose deficiency, or severity of deficiency. I must say this doesnt correlate to my experience or that of many others who had significant symptoms without having serum B12 under the official "low" value.

They also repeatedly mention that measured serum B12 after treatment has risen, which is of course expected, but most B12 deficiency treatment experts agree that measuring serum B12 after treatment begins should not be used to guage the effectiveness of treatment.

It's common for symptoms to return despite B12 levels being high, if treatment frequency is not sufficient. To be fair, most medical papers on B12 make this mistake due to unfamiliarity with deficiency cases and lacking the knowledge of how B12 deficiency is treated by experienced specialists.

[WiscGuy in reply to Technoid]

I was tired and posted the article before reading it entirely, for fear that I would space out posting it at all if I waited. I'm sorry to hear of the reliance on serum B12 levels. It's so commonly done, for screening subjects into studies, measuring effects of treatment, and so forth, and unfortunately, in my mind anyway, invalidates so many of the few studies that have been done on B12 treatment, a loss despite the generally low level of quality of studies into the effects of B12 deficiency treatment. I'm sorry to hear that, after they so unusually got so many things right, they fell into this "simplicity trap".

[newlandvale in reply to WiscGuy]

Hi WiseGuy.

I think the point they are making in the study is that there are a wide range of symptoms for B12 deficiency. Also I think it signifcant that they put weight on MRI when neurological symptoms do not match blood tests.

Article very much worth reading - thank you

[newlandvale in reply to newlandvale]

Also, they are reporting on other studies. They are not "relying" on blood tests

[newlandvale in reply to newlandvale]

or confirming treatment protocols

[OldmanD]

Good one

[Delilahmy]

Thankyou wiscguy

[Orchard33]

Thanks for the article. It is wide-ranging and confirms the multitude of symptoms associated with the deficiency. It's conclusions with regard to treatment are less welcome and, I believe, simply confirm inadequate one-size-fits-all protocols.

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

Very interesting wide-ranging article -with a few surprises.

The post-treatment measurements of serum B12, mentioned by Technoid are actually quite low, considering the treatment administered and severity of patients' conditions initially. Accepted, as "in range" - but I'm left wondering whether the patients actually felt any better ? Not very sciencey, I know, but vital information if using results to recommend treatment/frequency.

The patients with vein problems - thrombosis not something often associated with B12 in research papers. A surprise to me.

Another surprise in the summary chart : no mention of the use of MMA testing used as a secondary test when patients present with symptoms but serum B12 within range.

It was my MMA continuing to be raised, long after B12 injections started, that prompted further investigations for me. It took three years for my MMA to drop within range.