Lack of Research on Vitamin B12 Deficiency Guidelines

[WiscGuy]

I ran across a 2024 article that might be of interest to some members of this group. I quote the entire abstract, then provide a link to the article.

Abstract

Plain language title

Analyzing the Lack of Research on Vitamin B12 Deficiency Guidelines: Insights from Studies and Clinical Advice

Plain language summary

This study dives into Vitamin B12 deficiency, stressing its serious health impacts and potential life-threatening complications when not treated. The study aims to investigate the scientific articles supporting these guidelines and their clinical relevance, conducting an in-depth analysis of literature references. The manuscript investigates and criticizes current guidelines for B12 deficiency, pointing out 4 key issues reported by patients and clinicians worldwide. The results are grouped into 4 sections:

1.

Maintenance Dose Protocol: The study questions the adequacy of maintenance doses every few months, highlighting a lack of clinical evidence and challenging the idea of sufficient liver stores.

2.

Oral Supplementation Protocol: The effectiveness of oral supplements is questioned due to inconclusive trials, focusing on raising blood values rather than assessing actual clinical outcomes.

3.

Diagnosing B12 Deficiency in Children: Guidelines neglect B12 deficiency in children despite significant differences in B12 levels between adults and healthy kids, potentially leading to underdiagnosis and unnecessary suffering.

4.

Delay in Diagnosis and Treatment: Factors like a lack of awareness and diverse symptoms contribute to delays, emphasizing the ongoing challenge of standardizing B12 assays.

In the discussion, the manuscript argues that awareness of guidelines is low, and evidence-based guidelines may lack practical relevance. It suggests a significant revision of guidelines based on robust clinical evidence, advocating for personalized treatment, patient monitoring tools, controlled trials, and age-related healthy levels. Recognizing diverse patient needs and implementing individualized therapies are crucial for improving care for those with vitamin B12 deficiency, emphasizing the importance of early recognition and intervention.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/fu...

[Ghound]

Thanks for that 👍

[Cherylclaire Forum Support]

Good find, WiscGuy - and thanks for taking the time to lay out the study categories. As for the link itself - really worth the read, if just for the likely source of inbuilt flaws in common medical understanding of liver storage ; new to me anyway ! One sentence, if heard often enough from various sources, can become embedded, mistaken for truth.

I think the right questions have been asked here.

[Technoid]

Thanks! Still on the lookout for more research details on the mobilization of B12 stores but had some interesting data.

[Wwwdot]

Hi WiscGuy

Thank you for this - so interesting and I like the challenge to liver stores - it was made clear to me that B12 recycling and B12 liver storage is no longer the way my body works - if only more people, especially the “medics” would accept that.

I will print off and read - you are giving me a lot of homework and food for thought !! Thank you!!

🤗🤗🤗