Folate and Vitamin B12 results: Good afternoon... - Thyroid UK

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Folate and Vitamin B12 results

Pinkisland profile image
10 Replies

Good afternoon, these are my latest Folate and Vitamin B12 test results. Although they fall within the normal range, I would very much like to hear all your opinions on these results. Thanks in advance

Serum vitamin B12

298 pmol/L

145 - 569 Range

Serum folate

9.5 nmol/L

8.8 - 60.8 Range

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Pinkisland profile image
Pinkisland
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10 Replies
GlowCoach profile image
GlowCoachAdministrator

Optimal for serum B12 is 500++ so your result is quite a way short of that.

Folate is almost deficient. Aim for 60% of range.

Do you eat red meat?

B12 - do you have symptoms of B12 deficiency? The reference range for B12 is very wide and cut off point too low. theb12society.com/signs-and...

If you do then you should discuss this with your doctor for further tests for Pernicious Anaemia.

If not, then start with a methyl B12 sublingual spray or lozenge for a week, then add a good B complex. Once you run out of the separate B12 just continue with the B complex.

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

cytoplan.co.uk/vitamin-b12-...

amazon.co.uk/Better-You-Boo...

B complex suggestions: 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...

I'm sure that working on your vitamin levels will improve how you feel.

How about vit D & ferritin?

Pinkisland profile image
Pinkisland in reply toGlowCoach

thank you so much for all your information. Can you please explain why I should be doing the B12 spray for a week before I start the b complex. Since receiving the results I have started taking Thorne basic complex again which I had stopped for a while. Do you think that the B complex is enough to increase the folate as well? My ferritin is good but I haven’t had a vitamin D test recently. I do take a daily vitamin D tablet.

GlowCoach profile image
GlowCoachAdministrator in reply toPinkisland

The moment you stop any supplement then your levels are just going to be dropping back to where they are at the moment. Hypo people need to continuously supplement to keep their levels optimal.

For some people there can be issues when starting folate if B12 is low. Taking folate can mask B12 symptoms.

Vitamin B12 is considered safe and nontoxic, however taking any one of the B vitamins for a long period of time can result in an imbalance of other important B vitamins. For this reason, you may want to take a B complex vitamin that includes all B vitamins. Taking folic acid at high doses can hide a vitamin B12 deficiency. So these vitamins are often taken together.

mountsinai.org/health-libra...

Pinkisland profile image
Pinkisland in reply toGlowCoach

Looking at your link, I have so many vitamin b12 deficiency symtoms

GlowCoach profile image
GlowCoachAdministrator in reply toPinkisland

You didnt answer if you eat red meat. It makes a difference as to what to do.

Pinkisland profile image
Pinkisland in reply toGlowCoach

Yes I do eat red meat.

GlowCoach profile image
GlowCoachAdministrator in reply toPinkisland

Then you need to push your GP for tests for pernicious anaemia before starting to supplement B12.

Pinkisland profile image
Pinkisland in reply toGlowCoach

Please can you explain this in a bit more detail. Why is a pernicious anemia test needed before supplementing b12?

SlowDragon profile image
SlowDragonAmbassador

you will need separate B12 as well as vitamin B complex until B12 improves to over 500

Then you may be able to maintain good B12 on just vitamin B complex daily

IMPORTANT......If you are taking vitamin B complex, or any supplements containing biotin, remember to stop these 3-5 days before ALL BLOOD TESTS , as biotin can falsely affect test results

endocrinenews.endocrine.org...

In days before blood test, when you stop vitamin B complex, you might want to consider taking a separate folate supplement (eg Jarrow methyl folate 400mcg) and continue separate B12 if last test result serum B12 was below 500 or active B12 (private test) under 70

How much vitamin D are you taking

Test ideally twice a year

Aiming to maintain minimum of 80nmol

And between 100-125nmol may be better

NHS easy postal kit vitamin D test £31 via

vitamindtest.org.uk

Pinkisland profile image
Pinkisland in reply toSlowDragon

Thank you SlowDragon, my last vitamin D test was 90.

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