Vitamins and minerals

[Kaskade1]

B12 198 (180 - 900)

Folate 2.2 (2.5 -19.5)

Ferritin 14 (15 - 150)

Total 25 OH vitamin D 20.5 (<25 severe vitamin D deficiency)

I take 3000iu vitamin D3 and 5mg folic acid.

Do I need to do anything? Thanks

[Mary-intussuception]

Hi again

As I mentioned in reply to your other post I think you should speak to your GP about your B12 being so low on the range.

I think you already posted that you are on prescribed Folic Acid 5mg and Vitamin D 3000

?

X 🐥

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Mary-intussuception]

When were these blood tests taken? And how long have you been taking the supplements?

X 🐥

[Kaskade1 in reply to Mary-intussuception]

They were done last week. Vitamin D I have been taking since 2013 and folic acid since November 2016.

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Kaskade1 You need to ask your GP what he intends to do about

1) Ferritin below range. Don't be fobbed off with 'It's only a bit below range', you should ask for an iron panel, full blood count and haemoglobin test to see if there is any type of anaemia. An iron infusion would be good as that will raise your level within 24-48 hours, failing that then iron tablets and depending on whether there is also any anaemia confirmed from the other tests then that will determine the dose of iron tablets.

If given iron tablets then take each tablet with 1000mg Vit C to aid absorption and help prevent constipation. Take iron four hours away from thyroid meds.

2) Folate Deficiency - you are under range therefore deficient. This should be considered in conjunction with

3) B12 very low in range. Do you have any signs and symptoms of B12 deficiency b12deficiency.info/signs-an... ? Mention any to your GP. You may need testing for Pernicious Anaemia. You may need B12 injections.

Discuss your folate and B12 results with the people over at the Pernicious Anaemia Society forum here on Health Unlocked healthunlocked.com/pasoc then go and see your GP.

4) Vit D is severely deficient. Ask your GP to follow your area's treatment guidelines and give you appropriate loading doses as summarised in NICE Clinical Knowledge Summary for Vit D Deficiency here

cks.nice.org.uk/vitamin-d-d... which says

"For the treatment of vitamin D deficiency, the recommended treatment is based on fixed loading doses of vitamin D (up to a total of about 300,000 international units [IU]) given either as weekly or daily split doses, followed by lifelong maintenance treatment of about 800 IU a day. Higher doses of up to 2000 IU a day, occasionally up to 4000 IU a day, may be used for certain groups of people, for example those with malabsorption disorders.

Several treatment regimens are available, including 50,000 IU once a week for 6 weeks (300,000 IU in total), 20,000 IU twice a week for 7 weeks (280,000 IU in total), or 4000 IU daily for 10 weeks (280,000 IU in total)."

Come back and tell us what your GP prescribes. There are cofactors needed when taking D3 so you will need to buy those yourself.

[Kaskade1 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Iron panel and complete blood count has been done do I post these?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Kaskade1]

Yes

[Angel_of_the_North]

Get tested for pernicious anaemia - both B12 and folate low - don't supplment until you have been tested. Get a prescription for iron (or even an infusion), take a loading dose of vitamin D3 probably 10,000iu to start with. Get a referral to gastroenterology to find out why you aren't aborbing anything.