Normal Serum/Low Active

[oily1601]

Hi everyone

Has anyone any idea why my Serum B12 is normal and my active is low (39)

Any help much appreciated

[wedgewood]

Your blood serum B12 includes inactive B12 which you cannot make use of ( can be up to 80% It varies from person to person) . The active result is just the usable B12

[Jo5454]

Out if interest what is your serum b12?My serum b12 was considered normal, in the 200's, but after being convinced I'd lots of b12 symptoms I did an Active b12 which was 27 and MMA 500+ above range,indicating a functional deficiency-adequate in the blood, but not necessarily getting into cells well...just goes to shiw nhs levels dont fit all!

How are you feeling?

[oily1601 in reply to Jo5454]

To be honest,I’ve been feeling crap for so long it’s become the norm.

My serum result with the nhs was up over 500.

I’ve been taking omeprozole for years,I wonder if that’s got anything to do with it.

When I mentioned my active b12 result to my gp,she just shrugged it off….really frustrating

[Orchard33 in reply to oily1601]

Omeprazole is often responsible for stomach/absorption impairment which leads to poor or non-existant B12 absorption. It also leads to poor absorption of co-factors including iron. I stopped taking it after 15 years of H2 Blocker followed by PPI use resulting in a damaged stomach. It led to PA and then the demanding long-term remedial action to recover, B12 SI EOD, ferritin infusion, haem iron supplementation, co- factor supplementaion. Doctors use PPIs as insurance drugs against stomach ulcers, long term and with no monitoring. Rather like stattins are used as insurance drugs against stroke and heart attack.

[MorningMist in reply to oily1601]

I had a gp tell me ‘there’s no such thing as active b12’. 😟 Quite possibly your doctor knows next to nothing about it.

[Jo5454]

Sorry yre feeling so rough, but yep can relate to that, it's not until we feel really well that we realise just how bad its been. Is omeprezole a ppi/ gastric med?

It's the Active b12 that counts & anything between 25-70, St Thomas NHS refer for MMA testing. What tests have you had so far...?

Many GPs know very little about b12 & iron I and many others on here find! Know I battled to get a diagnosis, ended up.paying. My new Gp recently admitted! Have you considered changing GP's for a start?

At that level & if you've b12 symptoms you surely need b12 treatment. I think we've spoken before, and will refresh what yve already tested tomorrow as can't tonight...

[Jo5454]

Saw you had tests 5mnths ago, have you had anymore recently such as full blood count to check mcv, mch, Haemoglobin, etc? Folate, vit d, ferritin, iron profile? Have you ever thought of doing a homocysteine test?

[oily1601 in reply to Jo5454]

Vit D,Haemoglobin,folate etc all good.Haven’t done mcv or mch…..will have to get them done soon….will also get homocysteine test.