Mma or infrinsic factor ???

[Spotydave]

Hi everyone.. question..

I have hashi.

If i have a low normal active b12 which test would be better before i start to supliment ?

Mma or factor?

Thanks everyone

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

viapath.co.uk/our-tests/act...

Says 25-70 test MMA

But I'm not a B12 expert.

[Spotydave in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi susie hooe your all well.. so you recon mma would be better?

[SeasideSusie Remembering in reply to Spotydave]

I don't know which would be better, it's just that MMA is suggested on the link. Why not do some research on both tests, see what each one does, you might find out which one is the most useful or reliable.

[Spotydave in reply to SeasideSusie]

I was going down the mma route and thought id get a second apinion from you guys..

[radd]

Spotydave,

I believe MMA is cheaper.

Do you have any gut issues that could be affecting absorption of vitamins and minerals as low iron levels can skew serum B12 results by altering the size of red blood cells.

Also what about homocysteine ? ? .

[Spotydave in reply to radd]

Hi radd. Well ive always had ibs and very slow bowel .im now taking milk kefi.. bone broth vit d magnesium and k2 and just started taking hcl and pepsin which does seem to of helped. (Early days asjust started taking hcl) The high wind problem has slowed right down sinse using kefi etc and going gluten free.. i have low normal folate and low active b12.so now want the try and test b12 before i start to supliment.. doc is useless says i have no signs to needing injections etc. So im thinking like seaside susie mma would.be better than infrinsic factor test..

[Marz in reply to Spotydave]

MMA and Homocysteine are tests that are not routinely done in the NHS. If the results are raised then it can suggest Low levels of B12 in the Cells where it is needed. The IF Anti-body test is for Pernicious anaemia and can be unreliable I have read ...

[Spotydave in reply to Marz]

Im wondering weather to not bother testing and just supliment..

[radd in reply to Spotydave]

Spotydave,

Unless you suspect PA, I would just supplement a methylcobalamin Vit B12 which is pre-methylated (meaning it's ready for your biochemistry to put to immediate use and directly participates in homocysteine metabolism).

If you continued to feel unwell (when thyroid hormones and everything else is balanced/optimised) in say 3 - 4 months you could get homocysteine and MMA tested.

Supplement a B Complex in addition to the Vit B12 to keep B's balanced, together with Methyl Folate.

[Spotydave in reply to radd]

Would suplimenting now give a false reading if i re test in 3to 4months??

[radd in reply to Spotydave]

Spotydave,

Yes, supplementing Vit B12 will give a warped result on future Vit B12 test results.

[Gambit62]

iFA is a test for a specific cause of B12 deficiency and its not very sensitive so a positive is good for showing that you have PA but a negative is a long way from ruling it out. Its so flaky as a test that the BCSH guidelines refer to IFAB negative PA

It is a test that can be done post supplementation has started but you need to stop supplementing for a while - how long depends on the exact test method. Could be as little as 48 hours or as long as 10 days.

MMA (and homocysteine) are tests for bioproducts that build in blood if your cells don't have enough B12 to recycle them. MMA is best done in urine but the test samples aren't viable for very long after being taken and there are a lot of other things that would raise MMA and homocysteine so they need to be done in a context that rules those causes out.

Are you symptomatic of B12 deficiency

pernicious-anaemia-society....

I know there is a significant overlap with thyroid and a number of other things that may make things difficult but if you aren't symptomatic I wouldn't bother to supplement - being low in normal range may be what is right for you.

Earlier tests showing a much higher serum B12 would imply an absorption problem.

Lot more on B12 on this forum

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

[Spotydave in reply to Gambit62]

Hi gambit .. thanks for your reply... I have put up my last results of bloods for b12 .. i was advised to do qn infrinsic factor test before i start supliments.. I haven't started yet..

I dont haveuch symtoms i do get a little pain in hips which comee and goes and the odd tingling in feet and tinitus but i dont know if the b12 is the cause..

My vit d was low normal aawell and im hashi..

I just thought it would be better to test. But if its not a 100 reliable whats the point.. ?? I might aswell just supliment etc..

[Gambit62 in reply to Spotydave]

vitamin D could explain the problems you report.

Personally I wouldn't advice supplementing with really high dose B12 unless you know you have an absorption problem - it may not be toxic but use of high dose B12 by-passes mechanisms that regulate the amount absorbed from food and you could end up raising your serum B12 levels very significantly - although B12 isn't toxic this high serum B12 does seem to cause a reaction in some people that results in the process that allows B12 to move from your blood into your cells much less efficient, leaving you dependent on really high doses (possibly higher than you can get orally) possibly for evermore.

[Spotydave in reply to Gambit62]

Thanks.thants interesting.. i have put up at the too my bloods so you will see the last set.. taken about 3months ago.. is it worth re testing soon to see if thing have improved now i have changed my diet??

[Gambit62 in reply to Spotydave]

it may be worth rechecking - active B12 is a more accurate than serum B12 - if levels drop lower then that would point towards an absorption problem - which would generally be treated with injections. If you are concerned about B12 then suggest you look at the PASoc Forum - more support on advice on getting a formal diagnosis there.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc

[Spotydave in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you gambit.. so hold.fault and then do another bloods . I will do that when im due to do bloods for levo level check with the gp.in about 6weeks.and.if its drop more then go from there.. i might go on the pasoc forum. Really apriciate your help

[Spotydave]

Thanks everyone for.your help

[lucylocks]

Hi

are you on any thyroid meds, for your hashi's, if your are your TSH looks too high and T4 and T3 too low.

[Spotydave in reply to lucylocks]

Hi lucy. Thats the last bloods i had done.. i was on 50mcg then but im now on 100mcg.. ...but im dealing with my b12 now so them results was for people to see the b12 as i havnt suplimented the b12 yet. 😁

[lucylocks in reply to Spotydave]

O.K. so now you are on 100mcg. your thyroid levels should be better.

[Spotydave in reply to lucylocks]

Im gluten free now and on vit d magnesium k2 and hcl n pepsin.. and yes i do feel much better now.. hopefully the new bloods will show much better results