posted
Blood tests were very high on b12 serum tests. Dr. feels that injections are needed because of malabsorption?
Posts: 153 | From Tampa | Registered: Jul 2013
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ukcarry
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 18147
posted
The serum blood test for B12 is not a good one because it doesn't differentiate between active B12 and some that doesn't get into the cells, but is only available to be recycled by the liver.
B12 needs to bind with proteins to transport it to the cells and this seems to be problematic for some people. It is possible that genetics play a role here.
I have very high B12 on serum tests, but started to show some signs of extreme deficiency a couple of years ago and my MMA (methylmalonic acid) was very high on a urine test (ONE).......high MMA correlates to low B12.
Did your doctor use any other test that made him suspect that you are deficient?
If you go ahead with injections, there are several types of B12 injections: cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin and the latter 2 are the active forms, with different roles in the body.
Most people agree that cyano is the least use, and some get on with hydroxo because they can convert it to both methyl and adeno: others suit one of the active forms. If you happen to have done 23 and me genetic tests, there are charts available on the internet giving advice as to which form may suit you (eg Amy Yasko's).
I didn't go the injection route and use some topical B12 oils that I find effective.
Posts: 1647 | From UK | Registered: Nov 2008
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D Bergy
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9984
posted
I am confused. How is the doctor determining a deficiency? How does an injection make it any more likely the B-12is going to be absorbed at the cellular level than any other method?
I have very little ability to absorb B-12 because of removal of my terminal ilium where B-12 is typically processed. That has been measured using a blood test of some sort. Injections did not bring it up a lot, so I switched to sublingual form and it is now back to normal.
Dan
Posts: 2919 | From Minnesota | Registered: Aug 2006
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dbpei
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33574
posted
There is another very informative thread recently started about B12 deficiencies that may be helpful to you, Dan.
From what I understand, if your homocysteine is high and your MMA is high, those are red flags for problems with B12. Here is the thread:
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