Low B12

[Maldeerum]

My private blood test shows low B12 at 48.1 pmol/l. Is this something my GP should follow up with? I take daily B12 supplements but obviously this isn’t sufficient.

Many thanks.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator]

I would be pushing my GP to test for pernicious anaemia. Theres been a nice lot about it in the press recently.

What supplement have you been taking?

Suggest you also post on the PA group here on HealthUnlocked: healthunlocked.com/pasoc

[Maldeerum in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thanks, I take a 50mg B complex each day which includes B12.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Maldeerum]

What brand is it please?

If its the one I think it is it is a very low dose of B12 and no wonder your levels are struggling.

Compare the label of what you have with the image here which is fromThorne Basic B.

I'll add some links you can look through of high dose B complex's. Suggest you ick one and try again.

Slightly cheaper options with inactive B6:

amazon.co.uk/Liposomal-Soft...

Contains B6 as P5P an active form:

bigvits.co.uk/thorne-resear...

healf.com/products/basic-b-...

Explanation about the different forms of B6:

helvella.blogspot.com/p/hel...

B complex comparison spreadsheet:

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Thorne B list

[Maldeerum in reply to Jaydee1507]

The daily dose I’ve been taking is Solgar with 150mcg cyanocobalamin. Looks like it falls short but would it be causing a B12 deficiency?

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Maldeerum]

What type of diet do you follow? If its vegan or vegetarian then its likely due to your diet. You need red meat for B12.

If not and you eat a normal type diet then you need investigating for PA.

If you are going for PA investigation then stop supplementing now.

Otherwise, forstly cyanocobalmin is an inctive form of B12 and many people dont use it well. Better to go for methylcobalmin and a much higher dose as I listed.

[Maldeerum in reply to Jaydee1507]

I eat fish, dairy and eggs. My diet is GF. I am coeliac with Hashimoto’s.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Maldeerum]

So then with no red meat and also coeliac then quite possibly due to diet but always best to get these things checked out and speak to your GP about it.

You do need a much hogher dose of B complex though and possibly also a sub lingual B12 or spray as well to get your level up.

[Maldeerum in reply to Jaydee1507]

Thanks, that’s think it’s unlikely to be dietary because my levels have always been healthy until the drop in the last 2 years. I’ve never eaten red meat and my B12 has never been low until now.

[Jaydee1507 Administrator in reply to Maldeerum]

The body can only keep going so long without a regular, high enough source of B12 so it might just be catching up with you?

Anyway, get it checked out.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

That’s presumably an Active B12 test

Active B12 - any result below 70 is considered suspect and needs further investigation

GP won’t have any experience or understanding of Active B12 test

Request they test B12 and folate

Stop all B vitamins now before testing

[Maldeerum in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, it was a Medichecks test so would this be an active test? If so, is it still producing a viable result?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Maldeerum]

Yes it’s a more advanced test than NHS offers

NHS only offer Serum B12 test …..typically range is 180-760. Looking for serum B12 at least over 500

Important to always test Folate at same as they work together

[Maldeerum]

Just updating to say follow-up tests showed a sudden drop in 2022 when I stopped absorbing B12 and I have now begun loading injections whilst awaiting PA test results. It ties in with exacerbation of pre-existing autoimmune conditions at this time too.