Is B12 deficiency Woo? Cutting edge medicine? Normal GP stuff?

[KatyMac]

I keep reading about it & I can't decide

The NICE guidelines seem different to what my GP thinks & I am confused

Gee! Thanks!

I feel SO much better!

Outside uk worms are a cause, in the uk not v. Likely.

Fish tapeworm that is.

I take these: www.amazon.co.uk/Jarrow-Methylcobalamin-1000mcg-Flavour-Lozenges/dp/B002FJW3ZY

Stick one a day under your tongue and they are absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth.

What you don't need will be peed out. Job done!

You can go off people you know

no more talk about worms please

I have low iron, low B12 and low folate! God knows why. GP thinks my veggie diet is to blame but I eat pretty healthily IMO.

Taking iron and bought some B 12 tablets. Feeling a bit better.

Wobbly - yes it was fish tapeworm! Glad to hear they are not common in UK!

Sorry about worming my way back

Did you know you can get B12 patches? Cos the supplements might not work if you're low because you have an absorption issue. Or a worm.

We've dabbled in veganism and as a hangover from that time eat powdered algae - spiruliina (sounds gross, tastes weird) which is like 1 teaspoon to a gazillion times your intake of B12. Well, not quite a gazillion but over 2000% iirc. We blend it into sharp, lemony juice and similar. It makes everything a vivid green, which the children think fabulous.

Sparkly - I've used spirulina for years. I have always had low immunity and got a cough/cold/sore throat very easily, so started using it. It was probably also other deficiencies which I was unaware of. Spirulina made a shocking difference, as I NEVER fell ill while taking it again. But I used the tablets and not powder - which was so much easier to consume. Only when I got pregnant did I stop it for 2 years as its not tested for use in pregnancy.

I totally support it and my dad (who has poor health) also swears by it.

Cant say if it helps B12 or not as I never researched that aspect though.

I have B12 injections monthly as I have crohns and short bowel. I generally feel quite wobbily before I am due and definately feel the benefit.

Definitely support bringing a 'shopping list' to your GP - they are busy and work with the tools they have been trained with. Advocate for yourself! I think there is going to be more and more research and awareness of vitamin b12 deficiency in medicine and among people in general. A study recently that found B12 deficiency increases with age. About 12% of participants were b12 deficient and 10 folate deficient.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25063081