I posted this on my other thread but I was told to do a new post. Please delete if its unnecessary
My results are
Vit D - 25(prescription given for 12 months, 1 tablet daily) range 50 - 150.. I did tell them I was taking vit D before but clearly hasn't worked when I used d3 and k2 spray,maybe cos I didn't take it long enough
B12 - 265 , range 200 - 800) (she said this is normal)
Folate - 9.9 (said this is normal), I didn't get the lab range for this one.
Any ideas? I feel b12 is still low.
Vit D - 25
This is very low. How much vit D did the doctor prescribe? She should have given you loading doses.
Did you take magnesium with your vit D before? If not, you should do. Vit D needs magnesium to convert to its usable form.
B12 - 265 , range 200 - 800)
What she should have said was that it's in the so-called 'normal' range. But that doesn't mean very much. She should be testing for Pernicious Anemia. Don't supplement until that has been done.
Folate - 9.9
Don't need a range to know that this is on the low-side. Should be at least double figures. But, don't supplement until you've been tested for PA.
I've been given 50,000 d3 to be taken once a week for 6 weeks, then 800 d3 daily after wards for 12 months. I'm worried about the huge loading dose, especially as taking the spray form made me feel ill but I will give it a go.
I will discuss with doctor again about b12 but if they say it's normal range how do I talk about it? They make it so difficult it took ages to get b12 done via NHS but VITAMIN d wasn't really an issue.
The loading dose is liquid based as well so hopefully that means better absorption and I don't get too much side effects from it.
But you must take magnesium with it.
It is in range, but there's nothing normal about it. The range is so wide that it's not possible to be 'normal' both at the top and the bottom. You would feel entirely different with a result at the top to the way you would at the bottom. Have a look at this article, which explains it all better than I can:
pmj.bmj.com/content/94/1117...
B12 should be at least over 550 - the Japonese range starts at 500. Below that can cause irreversible neurological damage.
Re B12, maybe one strategy is to:
1. Get private, active test since even NHS effectively state their total B12 is not too useful?
2. If active is low/normal, the patient alters diet or supplement & retests.
3. If remains lowish, could test MMA (suspect would need to be private but could ask NHS) to determine deficiency level.
Some of this may prompt NHS to do something (?). My dad started at 2 after low-n active and mum (tot 350) may follow suit.
I had active b12 private testing done before with medichecks months ago, range were 25 and over, but mine was 27.lovely people on here said they was very low. So maybe my levels are showing normal when in fact my body isn't using the active form? Maybe I am not making sense. I am using b12 betteryou spray any way! Can't do no harm can it as far as I'm aware you cannot overdose on b12, only vitamin d.
Except that if you start supplementing before testing for PA, the results will be skewed and you won't know if you have PA.
My dad's level was 61pmol/L with N range 37.5-188 so ~16% through-normal range i.e. maybe a bit higher than yours. He is adjusting his diet only at this stage.
NB Also Medichecks and they recommended MMA test. But Biolab test overview suggests only need MMA if active B12 <50pmol/L. I can send link.
Maybe you could get the NHS to recognize that your Medichecks active B12 result is low enough to warrant them doing an MMA test as per the Biolab guidance I indicated? Knowing the NHS as I do here in UK, I don't hold out much hope but if you don't ask......
Keep us posted.
Far far better to get tested before starting taking supplements as the supplements will skew the results.
If they are hypo, altering diet won't have much effect because they will still have low stomach acid and difficulty absorbing nutrients. And, in any case, going that way round would take so much time, whereas getting tested would cut out all the trial and error. If you are taking B12 supplements, you have to be off them for five months to get a true reading of levels.
I agree, assuming you mean "re-testing" B12 since my step 1 is to test it initially?. My dad tested active B12 and will retest in ~4 months before considering next step which may be to test MMA (despite private cost >£100).
I think it's worth doing that and adjusting his diet meantime because he has never had B12 tested before. So we dont know if it has decreased or increased to 61 pmol/L. Both he and mum have been taking apple cider vinegar for several months and neither are diagnosed as hypo or have symptoms.
No, I didn't mean retesting B12. I meant testing for PA.
MMA?
It is in my abbreviations list which is part of...
helvella - Vade Mecum for Thyroid
The term vade mecum means:
1. A referential book such as a handbook or manual.
2. A useful object, constantly carried on one’s person.
Please don't get put off by the number of pages!
Not everything is in this one document - my major medicines document is still separate!
From Dropbox:
dropbox.com/s/vp5ct1cwc03bl...
From Google Drive:
drive.google.com/file/d/1ZW...
Methylmalonic acid - testing that can help ascertain B12 deficiency.
My understanding is that PA tests are only done AFTER being diagnosed with B12 deficiency perniciousanemia.org/diagno....
Following my dad's active B12 test, no such formal diagnosis was given but the following advice: "You have normal levels of vitamin B12, but it is towards the low end of the normal range. To work out whether there is significant underlying B12 deficiency, I recommend arranging a serum methylmalonic acid (MMA) blood test".
So the jury is out re B12 deficiency as I see it. Agree?
No, I can't agree because I don't see your point. The OP has very low B12 and should therefore be tested for PA. That's all I said. I didn't think any other discussion was necessary.
I looked on medichecks and csnnot afford 280£,i know my doctor won't do it cos my levels, in their view, are within range. Is there a cheaper way to test, for example does MMA DIAGNOSE PA? I read somewhere that you can provide a urine sample? Ps I haven't taken any b12, only vitamin D as prescribed. Thankfully I don't feel ill or nauseous.
I'm afraid I can't answer your questions. Why don't you try asking on the Pernicious Anemia forum?
They know far more than I do.
If you have a relevant link confirming you must abstain from B12 supplements for 5 months for an active B12 (or related) test, please send. Near the end of the link below, the period seems to be around 5 weeks.
biolab.co.uk/docs/vitaminB1...
It's what I' ve always been told.
I don't pretend to be an expert, in any way. So, if you want to discuss B12 why not go onto the Pernicious Anemia forum which I linked to in the response just above yours. Or do you just want to pick holes in me?
Please be assured that I was not trying to pick holes in anyway. Just simply seeking a link that supports your assertion about 5 months for the benefit of the OP here and/or others reading that advice (it doesnt apply to me/parents as we dont supplement B12). Ive no idea why youre being so defensive.
Because I find your tone aggressive. As I said, ask your questions on the PA forum, as I advised the OP.
Please feel free to identify any of my comments that might appear aggressive. After re-checking, I cant find any of MINE e.g. youll note that I, at least, use "please"regularly. I wont repond again as I personally find no benefit in a squabble.
Very unlikely that just 800iu will be high enough maintenance dose vitamin D
What dose would you recommend for maintenance (to take daily throughout the year)? and I will just purchase that or ask the gp to represcribe. Prescriptions are free in Wales so rather they prescribe it if possible, otherwise I don't mind buying.
You won’t know until you finish loading dose and see how much levels improve in 6-8 weeks
Then retest members can suggest then likely maintenance dose
Test again after 6 months on maintenance dose see if it’s correct level
It’s trial and error what suits each person
Often need higher dose in winter than summer
One more question if anyone is able to help... After I take loading doses for 6 weeks to get out of the lower than normal range (hopefully) , I am thinking of taking d3 and k2 (diff brand til I find one that works, not betteryou as that makes me feel sick), about 1000iu instead of the 800iu the doc prescribed because the one she's prescribed doesn't have k2 and I just don't feel comfortable knowing the chances of calcium building up instead of moving to where they belong ie bones. Will also take magnesium supplement along with it, too. In the meantime I will use health online app to msg my doctors surgery and ask for a blood test to check for PA. I don't see why they can refuse but if they do then I will save up enough to get tested via medichecks.
This is the brand of vit d3 I am currently taking. I’ve always was vit d3 deficient until I changed brands. I also was on a loading dose and my levels went up to 90(the upper range is 100). For maintenance I am currently taking 4K and my levels are now 80. I like this drops because I seemed to be absorbing it better.
How high was your loading dose? Did you have any side effects? Touch wood I feel fine at the moment. I took my first dose yesterday. Next one due Wed (2nd week).
It was 50k a week for eight weeks I believe? I did look into the better you brand and the reason I decided against it is because it contains acacia as one of the ingredients and I didn’t want to risk reacting to it. I didn’t have any side effects.
Sorry I didn’t post the vid link.
I couldn’t add the link from my I pad but the brand is Carlson super daily drops.
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