In my latest blood test my B12 was 900pg/mL (191.0 - 663.0) I have read that it can be ok to have high levels as it is water soluble and is excreted. However as I hadn't had taken it before having my blood test this indicates to me that it is indeed too high. I take methyl B compound which contains folate. Should I maybe take it every other day?
I'm concerned also about the B12 as my creatinine was above range and eGFR was low - these can be an indication of kidney disease though there can be other causes and I've read that eGFR can be lower in older people.
Any thought/advice would be greatly appreciated.
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AnneEvo
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Haven't discussed with doctor. I only picked the results up earlier in the week. But it says at the top 'Follow-up action: No further action.' I don't get bladder or urinary infections.
Yes but I thought B12 was recommended for hypothyroidism.
Actually I've just looked at a previous test result from Medichecks last year which says "You have high levels of vitamin B12, if you are taking a B12 supplement then I recommend decreasing your dose." So I may take it every 3 days or leave it off completely for a couple of weeks. I have a Medichecks kit in hand so I can see what it is after doing the blood test when I decide which of those 2 actions to take.
I have seen that it's ok if it's over range but as I said with eGFR being low it made me slightly concerned.
When you speak to your doctor I would ask him about your eGFR level. It might be normal for someone your age. Looking online, it seems that less than 60 is the point where they start keeping an eye on it. Yours is only just very slightly under that. If you've got no symptoms of kidney problems then maybe the doctor isn't concerned but it's still worth a conversation about it as there could be lifestyle changes that would help or some other factor that is stressing kidneys?
As for B12, Medichecks has already given you the advice you need. B12 is only recommended if B12 is low or someone has all the symptoms of low B12 that cannot be attibuted to another condition.
Thanks for that. Actually I made an error earlier - no change there! It's because I'm vegetarian that I take B complex particularly for B12 (but also for other B vitamins) and not as I said because I thought it was recommended for hypothyroidism.
I did actually start taking B complex every other day after reading the comment by the Medichecks doctor but over time I obviously forgot about that
I will talk to the doctor. I need to have bloods tested again.
If you eat dairy products you will get some B12. A vegetarian diet that includes dairy products can give you a good variety of all the B vitamins you need so long as you absorb them well. I think it's a good idea to get up to date blood tests.
Just to add, I don't drink or smoke and try to eat healthily; though I do have a sweet tooth. I do include nuts and seeds in my diet. I'm reasonably active playing table tennis twice a week and I do keep fit, line dancing and tap dancing. That sounds a lot but the keep fit and tap dancing are only 1 hour each a week, the line dancing is about 2 hours but I don't do every dance.
B12 isn't recommended for hypo specifically, what is recommended is that you get your nutrients tested and supplement those that aren't optimal. So, taking B12 is recommended for suboptimal levels of B12.
Nutrients need to be optimal for your body to be able to use thyroid hormone correctly, be it endogenous or exogenous hormone. And, hypos often have low nutrients, or nutritional deficiencies, because they have low stomach acid, which makes absorption of nutrients difficult.
Did you have your B12 tested before starting supplements? If so, what was the level? And how much is in the B complex? Your right, it is water soluble.
There are no super magical nutrients that are recommended for anything. You just need the right level of everything. More is never better.
I realised I'd made an error; it's not unusual 🙄; I was thinking it was recommended for hypothyroidism but actually was taking B12 as vegetarians are generally lacking in it. I hadn't tested for it previously. I think I'm going to stop taking ig altogether it for a few weeks till I use the Medichecks kit I already have.
Well, you do need to have optimal B12 to be able to use thyroid hormones, as I said. I don't think you need to worry about your B12 level. That's a very low range. I don't think it's excessively high. But, if you want a base-line for your B12, you'd have to be off it for 5 months, I'm afraid.
I managed to lower my creatinine and raise my gfr by eating less meat and drinking 2 or 3 cups of nettle tea a day. I had been on the autoimmune paleo diet and some days I had been eating meat 2 - 3 times a day. When i stopped doing this my creatinine dropped from 84 to 54 and my gfr went from 65 back up to 90.
Thanks for you reply. It's good to know it can be lowered. I've order dried nettle leaves after reading nettle tea was one thing to help flush out kidneys. I'm vegetarian but still going to cut back on protein.
Try a different form of B12 - adenosylcobalamin or hydroxycobalamin. I use the following drops, I don't know which form it is that works better for me.
I had very high B12 levels also on methylcobalamin - 2000 one time, 900 another - I think it wasn't getting into my cells ? Just because it is high in your blood doesn't mean it is in your cells, doctors don't understand this. I still was having low B12 symptoms at this time.
Also at the time would get these combo shots (out of pocket) of different supplements, and occasionally they would offer a methyl B12 "booster" and whenever I would get those boosters, even in the morning, I couldn't sleep at night, while I take the above drops before bed and I sleep well.
My eGFR was only >60 - seems concerning to me also but they don't seem to worry until you drop below which is strange - don't you want to fix things before it gets too bad? Of course not, let's wait until you only have 1/2 your kidney function left... Sensing I had low B12, I was eating a lot of beef then, maybe that was the cause for me.
I still take methyl B12 in my B complex, I just really find the adeno & hydroxy drops helpful even though they are pricey. I tried Trifolamin which has all 3 versions of B12 + folate, but couldn't sleep well taking that one before bed either, only the adeno & hydroxy.
I take the methyl form as the body doesn't have to convert it first plus the methyl B compound I take includes folate rather than folic acid which is supposed to be better. However, after reading your comment I found this:
In the body absorbed B12 works as a coenzyme (see also: B12 Benefits) that assists a number of important enzymes in the functions, but only two B12 structures can be used in the body as an active coenzyme:
Methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin
Hydroxocobalamin (also: hydroxycobalamin) is not a coenzyme form of vitamin B12, but can be easily converted by the body into one of the useable forms. It binds particularly well to transport molecules, meaning it can circulate the body for a prolonged period of time. Because of this attribute it is known to have the most long lasting effects out of all the different B12 forms.
So it may be what you do is best taking the methyl form with the Hydroxocobalamin and Adenosylcobalamin forms.
Also , in that link, it says Hydroxocobalamin is the long lasting form; Methylcobalamin is for the nerves and DNA and Adenosylcobalamin is the energy B12.
It seems worth getting those drops. The more you read on here the more you find out
GFR being low is often contributed to not being hydrated enough so that is something you can easily correct. My last B12 test more or less said if you are supplementing it will be artificially high others have said you need to be off it for several months for a true reading. Plus excrete any excess so possibly the worse thing could be throwing money down the loo!
I didn't realise it may be due to not being hydrated sufficiently; as you say that's easy to fix. I've started drinking nettle tea so hoping that will help.
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