Time to abandon the serum cobalamin level for diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency

[helvella]

You might be interested in this PAS thread:

"Time to abandon the serum cobalamin level for diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency"

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

[Marz]

Reading of the struggles people have on the PAS Forum - I really do think it will be a huge battle to make GP's understand. They already struggle - even with the Guidelines sitting on their desk

Good for those that do have GP's prepared to read and learn. Did you see the videos of the PAS Conference ? Available on the website of the PAS ....

[gabkad]

Thanks, Rod. I've emailed one of the coworkers to get methylmalonic test done and sent her the link to this article to print up for her doctor. She's getting B12 shots once a month now and I asked her to double check if this is doing the job. I.e. skip this month's shot before going for blood work. She should also get antibody tests done and H. pylori test done. Over here the MMA test is not covered by government. But the other ones are. The B12 cut off varies from lab to lab to hospital. It can be as low as 138 pmol/l up to 200 pmol/l. Seems to be random.

[Wishingwell]

Very interesting. Also b12 deficiency can be picked up in mch blood test too as mine was elevated, but serum b12 low end of range. Finally got injections based on MCH!

[Learner1]

Agreed. The methylmalonic acid test (MMA) is the gold standard. Genova Diagnostics uses it in their panels.

The values in the standard panel should really be over 6-700 at a bare minimum. There is no upper level of toxicity for B12, as long as you're not taking cyanocobalamin, which has a cyanide molecule in it. B12 deficiency causes serious problems and Japanese researchers have found neurological symptoms at 5-600 and below.

A high mean corpuscular volume (MCV) can also be an indication of low folate or B12 status.

Also, THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER REASONS besides pernicious anemia why B12 levels are low which people need to be aware of. Genetics, toxicity, and infections may cause an increased need, even if it's absorbed.

And mist people should supplement with a balance of methyl and adenosyl B12, and avoid cyano and hydroxo B12.