Strange B12 Ranges

[Furface]

Can anyone shed any light on why when I had my last tests done for B12, it said:

B12 124.9 pmol/L (25.00 - 165) Surely this range is inaccurate?

[Clutter]

Furface,

That looks like the Active B12 range rather than serum B12 range.

[Furface in reply to Clutter]

Please see below . . . .

[Treepie]

Looking at the Medichecks results of the post two posts after yours Clutter is correct.

[Furface]

Okay, is this likely to be accurate as

Ferritin was 42.2 (13.00 - 150)

Folate (Serum) 4.53 (2.91 - 50.00)

25OH Vit D *17.9 (50.00 - 200.00)

I am feeling so ill and need to help myself. Any advice would be greatly appreciated as the Dr says I'm fine! (I am addressing the Vit D with loading doses but not sure about the folate and ferritin.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Furface]

Ferrtin is too low - needs to be at least 70. Folate needs to be half way up range. D is absolutely dreadful, so lets's hope the loading doses help. Are you taking magnesium and vit K2 (MK-7) as well to make sure the vit D goes where it should. Tablets are often badly absorbed; sprays and oil emulsions can be better.

[Furface in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

Saw Dr today who said its fine but I am aware that NHS idea of 'fine' is not optimal. As ferritin is to do with iron, what is the best way of increasing? (I do eat spinach already but cannot stand liver!) Didn't get on with the standard tablets NHS Ferrous Sulphate and Ferrous Fumerate, very bad headaches and constipation. I am taking Magnesium and K2 soft gels with Vitamin D. Am using 'D' rubbed into skin also.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Furface]

Spinach actually binds iron because of the oxalic acid, even thohg it contains it, so your best bet is still 210mg ferrous fumarate tablets from a pharmacy (terrestrial or online), most don't require a prescription although may ask you if your doctor knows you are taking it - answer "Yes" - cheaper than an NHS prescription and the same stuff. You probably only need 1 or 2 a day, not the full 3. Taken with at least 500mg vit C to aid absorption and prevent constipation. Or if you really can't stand them, Iron bis-glycinate (eg gentle iron) - more expensive but available from many supplement vendors.

[Furface in reply to Angel_of_the_North]

I will never again take ferrous sulphate or ferrous fumerate, the headaches, nausea and constipation were terrible given me by G.P. Looking into iron bisglycinate though or Spatone natural iron water.

[Angel_of_the_North in reply to Furface]

I found that my ferritin actually got worse on Spatone - it has very little iron in it. Probably OK if you just need to maintain a good level but you'd need to drink gallons (very expensive) to actually raise levels.

[Gambit62 in reply to Furface]

green vegetables tend to be high in iron- just spinach that is the one to avoid.

[Clutter in reply to Furface]

Furface,

You can supplement iron to raise ferritin. Take it with 1,000mg vitamin C to aid absorption and minimise constipation. Take iron 4 hours away from Levothyroxine.

Supplement folic acid or methylfolate for 3 months to raise folate.

What vitD loading dose are you prescribed?

[Furface in reply to Clutter]

I am taking Vitamin C wholefood though no iron at present. Not on Levothyroxine. Will look at adding Folate next. Am on 10,000 vit D orally per day and 10,000 rubbed into skin.

[Clutter in reply to Furface]

Furface,

I didn't know there was such a thing as topical vitD. What's it called?

Try iron bisglycinate which isn't as rough on the gut as Ferrous Sulphate and Fumarate.

[Furface in reply to Clutter]

Its not a topical vit D, just softgels pierced. Will try anything on the off chance that it may help. Thank you

[Clutter in reply to Furface]

Furface,

You'd be better off swallowing them. When my vitD was <10 I was prescribed 40,000iu daily x 14 then 2,000iu daily x 8 weeks. VitD was 107 when retested.

[Furface in reply to Clutter]

I have severe gut issues (which are being treated) and so most nutrients just do not reach my cells. That is why I was swallowing and using on skin. Not just a random thing, haha!

[Clutter in reply to Furface]

Furface,

Try an oral spray then which will absorb D3 sublingually bypassing the gut.

[Angel_of_the_North]

That looks like a range for Active B12, not the usual serum B12 test.