Low vitamin B12.
Discussion
Anyone have any experience of low vitamin B12?
Yesterday I got my blood test results back for my offshore medical. I should get these every 2 years but due to hating having this done and nearly passing out afterwards, it has been a while since the last one. My old family doctor used to do these tests and let it go. This new place I was at this year were having none of it.
I was surprised at the very low B12 reading, should be 167 - 695 and I had only 121. I did some googling and it turns out that I eat a lot of nearly all the foods high in B12 except shellfish. So it is very surprising that the reading should be so low.
Could it be possible that my body is somehow not able to extract it from the food? I bought some vitamin tablets and folic acid so have started to take these.
The google search also exposed some rather scary side effects of low B12 including depression and mental health issues which could be permanent if deprived of this vitamin for long enough.
My blood sugar was also too high. I had 7,0 and it should be 4,0 - 6,0. I think this was due to very poor diet the day before and 2 Mars Bars for breakfast on the morning of the test.
Edit: wrote V12 instead of B12, well it is a car forum.
Yesterday I got my blood test results back for my offshore medical. I should get these every 2 years but due to hating having this done and nearly passing out afterwards, it has been a while since the last one. My old family doctor used to do these tests and let it go. This new place I was at this year were having none of it.
I was surprised at the very low B12 reading, should be 167 - 695 and I had only 121. I did some googling and it turns out that I eat a lot of nearly all the foods high in B12 except shellfish. So it is very surprising that the reading should be so low.
Could it be possible that my body is somehow not able to extract it from the food? I bought some vitamin tablets and folic acid so have started to take these.
The google search also exposed some rather scary side effects of low B12 including depression and mental health issues which could be permanent if deprived of this vitamin for long enough.
My blood sugar was also too high. I had 7,0 and it should be 4,0 - 6,0. I think this was due to very poor diet the day before and 2 Mars Bars for breakfast on the morning of the test.
Edit: wrote V12 instead of B12, well it is a car forum.
Edited by el romeral on Saturday 9th May 17:04
Have you had any surgery in stomach? I had part of stomach removed due to crohn's...the part removed used to deal with distribution of vitamins etc
As a result I receive b12 injections every 3 months..due this week.
Your go should be able to sort that for you. I just see my gp surgery nurse. 2 minutes
When my injection is due I feel a little depressed for a week or 2. Feel a bit shivery and cold too.
As a result I receive b12 injections every 3 months..due this week.
Your go should be able to sort that for you. I just see my gp surgery nurse. 2 minutes
When my injection is due I feel a little depressed for a week or 2. Feel a bit shivery and cold too.
I was diagnosed with low B12 at the start of the year. I think there is another thread here on it. The only explanation they could give me was that my body isn't metabolising it from the food I eat, and that it now never will. I had a course of 5 injections, 2 days apart, to boost my level and need to go back for 3-monthly top-ups. Apparently most people feel amazingly different and better once they are on it, if you Google then it is supposed to cure a whole raft of symptoms but I can't say it has made any difference to me yet. Doc said they would check my levels again. Reminds me, I must book in for that.
Thanks for replies.
Have not had stomach surgery. It does sound like I am not metabolising it sufficiently. I read about injections as opposed to tablets. I imagine this is to get it directly into the blood stream as opposed to tablets in the stomach? Presumably if you do not get it from your food, you also will not get it from tablets?
Have not had stomach surgery. It does sound like I am not metabolising it sufficiently. I read about injections as opposed to tablets. I imagine this is to get it directly into the blood stream as opposed to tablets in the stomach? Presumably if you do not get it from your food, you also will not get it from tablets?
The most common cause is pernicious anaemia but can occur if you have had surgery or other conditions such as Crohn's or coeliac.
Get it replaced by injection as you are probably unable to absorb it. You can develop significant problems if it Gets v low. Ask your GP to run some tests to understand Why it is low.
Get it replaced by injection as you are probably unable to absorb it. You can develop significant problems if it Gets v low. Ask your GP to run some tests to understand Why it is low.
el romeral said:
Thanks for that. Yes it does look as if I may sadly need injections. I do wonder if a day and a half of extremely poor eating (no food especially rich in B12) before the test could have partly caused my low result? Not sure how quickly it depletes in the body?
Your liver can store several years worth of B12; a couple of days of low intake wouldn't affect the test.Biglips said:
The most common cause is pernicious anaemia but can occur if you have had surgery or other conditions such as Crohn's or coeliac.
pernicous anemia is caused by b12 deficiency - not the other way round.in order for B12 to be absorbed, the lower stomach produces "intrinsic factor" - without this you are unable to absorb B12. so taking tablets will not be successful.
As others have mentioned, a lifelong course of B12 injections is usually the treatment. I assume the doc also checked yout folic acid levels.
Farmerpalmer said:
Biglips said:
The most common cause is pernicious anaemia but can occur if you have had surgery or other conditions such as Crohn's or coeliac.
pernicous anemia is caused by b12 deficiency - not the other way round.in order for B12 to be absorbed, the lower stomach produces "intrinsic factor" - without this you are unable to absorb B12. so taking tablets will not be successful.
As others have mentioned, a lifelong course of B12 injections is usually the treatment. I assume the doc also checked yout folic acid levels.
You need 5 B12 injections given over the next couple for weeks or so. Thereafter possibly ongoing maintenance injections - typically every 3/12 or so. Although the latest research suggests very high dose oral supplements just as good - even in pernicious anaemia where absorption is very poor.
This will have been developing for months / years probably.
Folate levels (another B vitamin) is normally done routinely with B12.
Lastly, as mentioned above, you need more investigation to find out why - PA accounts for 80% of cases but other forms Of malabsorption (eg coeliac disease) cause it too.
Farmerpalmer said:
pernicous anemia is caused by b12 deficiency - not the other way round.
in order for B12 to be absorbed, the lower stomach produces "intrinsic factor" - without this you are unable to absorb B12. so taking tablets will not be successful.
As others have mentioned, a lifelong course of B12 injections is usually the treatment. I assume the doc also checked yout folic acid levels.
Not so actually. See above re high dose oral supps. And PA is a condition comprising antibodies to intrinsic factor, B12 deficiency and anaemia and is the cause of B12 malabsorption, not just the name for the resulting anaemia (not always present). Confusing old fashioned nomenclature in order for B12 to be absorbed, the lower stomach produces "intrinsic factor" - without this you are unable to absorb B12. so taking tablets will not be successful.
As others have mentioned, a lifelong course of B12 injections is usually the treatment. I assume the doc also checked yout folic acid levels.
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