Optimum Ferritin Result?

[B12again]

What is the optimum ferritin result I should seek to achieve and how, please. My recent last result was 90mcg/L (30 - 200). I SI B12 EOD. I take a B complex (B6 10mg) and folic acid (5mg) as a separate supplement.

[Narwhal10]

Hi B12again,

For ferritin it is 70 mcg/L. This knowledge is also not necessarily known among the medical community. So, 90 mcg/L is wonderful. Whatever you are doing keep doing it.

Iron is complex and we have to be careful with over supplementing it. Many a time, I get cravings and apologies to vegans and vegetarians but I will say, I need half a cow. Beef is one of my cravings with 20% of Iron as a Recommended Daily Amount.

Over recent years, the plant based diet has been promoted beyond. However, that is for people without PA/B12D, or folate, iron deficiency. There is NO vitamin B12 in broccoli* nor any plant based food.

One of the best ways to achieve optimum levels is via food, drinks and smoothies. However, malabsorption issues can hamper those.

* I am sure you know which idiot made this false statement.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Please note that normal ranges are set on averages of where most people are okay. I don't think the term 'optimum' is useful when applied to these ranges. Your result is well within the normal range which would imply that you don't have a problem.

_Please also note that ferritin is a protein that binds to iron. It is a good indicator of iron status but it doesn't tell the whole story. Treatment for iron deficiency should really be based on a full iron panel.

People with B12 absorption problems often have problems absorbing other minerals and vitamins, as Narwhal says, but that doesn't mean that everyone with PA does have problems absorbing other vitamins and minerals.

5mg is a very high dose of folate to be taking daily - the dose prescribed for people recovering from a folate deficiency. I know there are some groups out there telling you that you need this dosage if you have B12 absorption problems but actually it can be harmful to take this dosage for a long period of time.

[ReallyWondering in reply to Gambit62]

How can folate be harmful?

[B12again in reply to ReallyWondering]

I wondered that too. It is water soluble and excess is eliminated from the body. Uk medical bodies guidelines even indicate up to 15mg is ok and they are usually very conservative. Some ’advice’ from some who have understanding and experience are that if EOD SI B12 then 5mg is important, taking less as the interval gets longer.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

B12again ReallyWondering There is a thing called 'the folate trap' where excess folate results in B12 being trapped in one form so it isn't available to be used in all the processes that require it.

[B12again in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks for the information, as ever, we must strive to educate each other as the medical profession are not doing a good job in this area, so I welcome your concern.

I did do my due diligence and in the end one has to alight on a decision. It was to the balanced and what I considered to be the best effect for my body. Due to the fact I am flooding my system with B12 (I had horrible deficiency symptoms now reducing) and the need to take folic acid for lowish folate for best effect, I took the considered advice from numbers of folk in our wonderful group to balance the ‘flood’. As and when I can extend the injection interval I will reduce the dosage. I have shared below a short explanation I have put together and a link to a more comprehensive study.

The folate trap is a biochemical phenomenon that occurs when there is a deficiency in vitamin B12. It results in the accumulation of homocysteine and the depletion of tetrahydrofolate, which is a biologically active form of folate. This can lead to various health issues, including anaemia and neurological problems.

What is the danger? Overlooking B12 deficiency or too large a dose of folic acid?

Both scenarios pose risks, but they manifest differently:

1. Overlooking B12 deficiency: Not addressing a B12 deficiency can lead to serious health complications such as anemia, neurological damage, and even irreversible nerve damage if left untreated. B12 deficiency is particularly concerning because it can sometimes be overlooked or mistaken for other conditions due to its diverse symptoms.

2. Too large a dose of folic acid: While folic acid is important for health, excessive intake can mask the symptoms of a B12 deficiency, exacerbating the problem. High levels of folic acid without sufficient B12 can lead to neurological damage even if anaemia is corrected, as it can correct the anaemia associated with B12 deficiency while allowing the neurological damage to progress.

Ensuring that B12 deficiency is properly diagnosed and addressed is crucial for preventing the folate trap phenomenon. By identifying and treating B12 deficiency, you can avoid the accumulation of homocysteine and depletion of tetrahydrofolate, thus mitigating the risk of associated health issues. This approach helps maintain the balance between B12 and folate levels, reducing the likelihood of complications from either deficiency or excess supplementation of folic acid. Therefore, early detection and appropriate treatment of B12 deficiency play a key role in preventing the folate trap problem.

Both scenarios 1&2 present dangers, and it's crucial to maintain a balance between adequate B12 intake and folic acid supplementation.

Benefits and Risks of Folic Acid to the Nervous System

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[ReallyWondering in reply to Gambit62]

How can you tell if you’re impacted by the “folate trap”? My folate has been consistently high since before B12 shots and now injecting every 5-7 days. It’s > 44.6. Normal is 5.9-24.8

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to ReallyWondering]

ReallyWondering I'm not a medical professional or a biochemist. I don't know if there is a specific metabolite that can be tested in this situation that is specific to this cause - I suspect that there isn't. My intention in mentioning it is merely to highlight that dosing with huge amounts of folate may not be sensible.