I take Metformin which significantly blocks B12. I also take lansoprazole for a hiatal hernia that can cause neuropathy by itself by reducing stomach acid to the point where intrinsic factor cant metabolize orally ingested B12 properly. These two meds combined can reduce oral B12 absorption more than 90% from what I've read. That means most of the B12 is passed through with no benefit.

If I repeat myself bear with me. The standard serum B12 test and the outdated minimum safe level of 200 can make you think you have enough B12. This has been been proven not to be the case for a number of reasons that contribute to false readings. The updated minimum levels are at 400 and the serum test is replaced by intracellular vitamin analysis and or micro nutrient testing which is far more accurate.

With the meds I'm on I have a good chance of being iron deficient. For me I have to bypass the oral route and get injections. There is only one lab in the country that performs the updated test like you get in Japan, Sweden, Finland, France, Switzerland Germany etc. It was developed by a Nobel prize lariat at a prominent university in Houston Texas. I hesitate to mention the Lab because because I'm not sure that is permitted and I don't want to be accused of advertising a brand. With the info I have supplied you, you can easily figure out which lab by it is by doing a little Googling.

On another note. I was thinking about buying my prescription meds from those online pharmacies that purport to sell generic versions without a prescription. I have looked for articles warning against this but cant find a single one. Have any of you tried substituting prescription meds this way?

Dr Smith, You mentioned something that sounded like "L'Argenine". Today when I went to the supplement shop they had lots of choices. How many grams would you start with? I did purchase some R-Alpha Lipoic acid 200 mg tablets. Being that this is supposed to be a better absorbed form of ALA is the mg dose the same or less?

Thank you for sharing with me.