Anyone know anything about b12?

[goodnessgraciousannie]

Been having stomach pains for over ten days so dr sent me for some blood test. Nothing came back that help sort out what the pain is but she said my b12 levels are 45 which is apparently very low so I've got to go and have injections.

She said it could be diet but I eat a varied diet including lots of meat. Is there anything else that could have caused it?

Hey there,
oddly a balanced diet can actually work against vitamin and mineral absorbtion. Some compounds in some plants can interfere with the uptake of iron and b12.
A nice plate a beef liver cooked in butter, for breakfast every week.
I know. I eat liver once or twice a week, and quite like it, but it can be chore.

There seems to be massive resistance from some GP practices to give patients these injections as tablets are cheaper but if you can, stay on the injections as the absorption is far superior.

Absolutely - If your body can't absorb B12 from the food you eat, then it won't absorb B12 from tablets, the digestive principle is just the same!

Exactly that @NearlyMonday

As a GP, I want to say we have no personal vendetta against B12 injections…. Wherever its injection or tablets makes little difference to the prescriber. TBH implementing the injection regime is the most straightforward method of addressing any form of b12 deficiency for us, regardless of cost. We aren’t paying for it and (any GP I know) have zero interest in cost saving against what is right for the patient in front of us.

The European model (even for malabsorption) suggests that flooding with the high dose b12 tablets can treat b12 deficiency in people with low absorption as they will absorb a percentage… for an unfixed period of time… (until no absorption): as I understand it, that’s the model that was adopted by NHS over the acute covid period… and has worked for some (definitely not all) B12 deficiency patients.

So it’s not an unreasonable option (as long as you check effectiveness with a blood test after a few months) for people with mild or incidental findings of low b12, who want to try an alternative daily supplement to regular injections.

Some people are terrifically needle phobic, some don’t want to sign up for lifelong 3mo injections without trialling oral replacement with a follow up blood test to check it’s working.

Having said that, anyone with low B12 and nerve symptoms, or a low blood count, should absolutely be on injection replacement.

There are many ways to approach things medically, treating a whole person rather than a number…

I have low B12 (despite taking supplement and eating meat). Was told I needed injections which a big no for needle phobic me. I use a spray under my tongue. I never had any symptoms anyway. The people I know with PA were having pins & needles etc

This is broadly what my GP said. After years of being successfully treated with injections I didn’t want to experiment with b12 tablets - I tried them before, they didn’t work, the numbness, pins/needles and dizziness were horrible, I was too unwell to work.

Thankfully my GP continued with injections after coming to the conclusion that I don’t absorb b12 very well, I don’t have PA and I’m not vegetarian