posted
I have noticed that my B12 levels always come back very high. Is there a tests which shows if a certain vitamin is being absorbed properly or if you have issues absorbing?
Posts: 153 | From Tampa | Registered: Jul 2013
| IP: Logged |
Razzle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 30398
posted
Methylation Pathway analysis can help with this, tells how well your body can convert the b12 forms and folic acid into methylfolate.
Test is expensive, but I think worth it for this sort of stuff.
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
| IP: Logged |
ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
You can test your methymalonic acid levels in blood or urine. High levels of it suggest that functionally, your B12 is low.
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
This is an interesting thread, because I was about to ask a question along similar lines.
Just today I started a med called Daraprim which can deplete your folic acid levels.
I was prescribed to take folinic acid, (which is more absorbable) But it is very expensive as a prescription drug, so I decided to take simple folic acid.
I do have the MTHFR mutation. The two most common ones. (one C677T and one A1298C) My dr. acted like a lot of people have this and didn't seem very concerned.
Do you think I should worry about this? My b12 levels are high too, which seems to astonish most Drs.
UK, are you saying high levels of B12 is indicative that it isn't absorbing?
Posts: 477 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Nov 2015
| IP: Logged |
ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
Foxy Loxy, high levels CAN be suggestive of this, yes. It does seem to be related, at least partly to genetic make-up, but the way in which B12 is absorbed by the body is quite complex, since it needs several 'transporters' to shuttle it into the cell.
Apparently, quite a high proportion of our B12 overal level measured in a serum blood test may be only available to the liver and be recycled, not available to cells in general. People with absorption problems may not realise that they are low in B12 because their levels on the serum test are high.
There's a test of 'active' B12, but I am not sure of its availability in the USA. In the UK, it is arranged through St Thomas's hospital in London.
That is why the MMA test (methylmalonic acid) is useful, as I mentioned in my previous post.
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
Thanks uk! That helped clarify things I don't know how much to worry about this.
Drs don't seem to all agree on this methylation issue, which means it must be hard to understand and very complex!
Add on this medication which depleted b9 and I feel a little nervous!
Posts: 477 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Nov 2015
| IP: Logged |
Razzle
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 30398
posted
Those with MTHFR mutations have difficulty converting Folic Acid into the active form, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (methylfolate).
Thus, to supplement Folic Acid, these individuals might want to do their body a favor and use the methylfolate form instead -- or get your Folic Acid from leafy greens, as the Folate in the greens is in a form that does not need to be converted by the MTHFR enzymes.
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
| IP: Logged |
posted
Yay Razzle, then I must be doing the right thing, because I ordered 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, from Jarrow!
Your description of what is happening was very helpful to me. Thank you for writing!
WHEW!!!! The daraprim I am taking sure seems to have hit my babesia. Last night I sweated pretty hard, and haven't done so for quite a while!!
I also have a mild headache and felt like I slept very weird. I sure hope I don't have to stay on this med though. Depleting your folic acid doesn't sound like a good idea. AT. ALL.!!!!
Posts: 477 | From Pennsylvania | Registered: Nov 2015
| IP: Logged |
The Lyme Disease Network is a non-profit organization funded by individual donations. If you would like to support the Network and the LymeNet system of Web services, please send your donations to:
The
Lyme Disease Network of New Jersey 907 Pebble Creek Court,
Pennington,
NJ08534USA http://www.lymenet.org/
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I don't know how much to worry about this. 
Printer-friendly view of this topic