Clare,

That's the way it is here too, because most doctors are decades behind on this issue (understandable for some, because so many medical references haven't been updated on it as they should have been).

Those two tests are good (if you haven't taken B12), much better than the B12 test, but not 100%.

Regardless of what they show regarding B12, the homocysteine (spelled somewhat differently some places) will be good for you to have. You want to aim for the lower half of the normal range.

Sounds likely that you have more than one thing going on, but a very important root of much or all could be insufficient stomach acid. In fact, many doctors still give people stomach acid reducers when they don't have enough acid.

It's kind of a chicken and egg thing. With or without stomach-acid reducers, the stomach eventually atrophies to some degree (some early and badly, some much later). This can contribute to many problems, including overgrowth of bacteria, malabsorption of B12 (and possibly iron and calcium), and too many other things to try to mention. Stomach acid is protective and helpful in many ways.

The chicken and egg thing comes in with: what happened first, the low acid or a condition such as B12 deficiency that may have contributed to the problem.

Probably in most cases low acid.

Low stomach acid can also cause stomach contents to back up into the esophogus. And stomach contents are unpleasant and damaging there whether low in acid or not.

I would do a lot of reading on the vitamin (nutrient) forum, and at the very least I would take any kind of B12 I could get (not timed release or delayed release) in a 2000 mcg per day dose. It's inexpensive and safe. And if you need it it is very important.

rose