People with no intrinsic factor do indeed absorb orally...
this is done PASSIVELY with large doses of 1 to 5 mg a day.

There are many studies to show this now works orally when taken daily on an empty stomach.

I would get the DNA testing for MTHFR mutations which are very common also to see if you require methylcobalamin. Most injections are cyano type and have to be methylated to work in the body. Otherwise you don't get the benefit of cyano injection or oral.
It will show up floating in your blood tests, but it will not work in tissues if you have the mutation.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency - American Family Physician

This link is for doctors education, but lay people can understand it too as it is written very well.

You can choose to do what you want. But do research showing oral will work, to save you the invasiveness of injections, and the use of the right type of B12 so it will actually work once injected.

I am sorry your doctor remains uninformed, but you can give him that article to explain the newer aspects of B12 therapy.

Thanks, mrsD. If I give this to my doctor, he will kick me out of his office, and I will have to spend another six months finding a new doctor and obtaining an appointment. That's just the way it is in my city. Maybe I can figure something else out.

I was wondering about my test results. Is there any way to know if the high test result is due to the oral B12 that I am taking in addition to the injections? Is 1718 an unremarkable result after only six weeks?

Injections remain in the blood for about 72 hrs. So you should be
tested at least 72 hrs after a shot. It is also necessary to
Stop oral B12 for about a week before testing. This will
give a more accurate result and less of a false elevation in
results.

Any doctor who would throw you out is not worth seeing.

With regard to the 1781 test, I set that up so that I had no oral vitamins, including B12, for three full days prior to the test, and no injection for two weeks prior to the test. I'll follow your parameters next time.

[EDIT: I apologize for going on in this thread. I'll try to stay on topic. :) ]

Recently, I tested POSITIVE (HETEROZYGOUS) for MTHFR C677T.

My endocrinologist wants me to take methylated B12 orally. He suggested Metanx and/or something else (I don't remember the name). I told him about the Jarrow B12 product, and he said okay to that. He is also keeping me on the B12 injections for the moment — just out of caution because I have the double whammy of no intrinsic factor and the genetic mutation.

I've had a very tired day today, but I have felt not so bad in the last few weeks.

Question: In addition to my rapidly receding hairline, the consistency of my hair is becoming like straw. Is this normal?

Thanks. :)

Latest Test:
B12
2000 pg/mL (213-816 pg/mL)

Following mrsD's advice, I abstained from all oral vitamins (including B vitamins) for 6 days prior to the test, and I had no injections of B12 for more than two weeks prior to the test.

I'd welcome anyone's thoughts on this result. :)

When I used 5mg orally every day for 3 months my test was 1999.

Several members here have had results that high when supplementing.

This test shows only the B12 in the serum and not the tissues.
There is B12 in red blood cells too, so if the sample ruptured the cells in the blood that would dump B12 into the serum and be a false (factititious) reading. This happens with potassium tests commonly. Using a butterfly thin needle to draw blood, or too tight a tourniquet can rupture the red cells.

A high reading (and 2000 is often the upper limit of the testing equipment), is not something to worry about generally. If you continue with symptoms over time however, with a high reading, then it would suggest you look for a reason. Adjusting your dosing is the first thing to adjust.

The testing does not discriminate between methyl or hydroxyl forms of B12 and cyano. The test measures the red color of the solution extracted from the serum, and not individual chemical analogues of B12. It is called a colorimetric test.

High dose folate not recommended for seniors:
 

This is a very important NEW article on research revealing
high dose folate consumed by seniors who have a specific mutation ( one in 6 so far) may lead to nerve damage
caused by blocked B12 within cells.

Thanks to Marlene for finding this new article:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...1012141654.htm

The bottom line is not to go over 800mcg/day.

My multi-vitamin has 1000 mcg of Folic Acid, and I have been taking 400 mcg of Methyl Folate. Too much?

I Positive (HETEROZYGOUS) for MTHFR C677T.

I'd find another multivitamin.
Most only have 400mcg folic acid.

This is a new finding, so I don't know the long term effects about this situation. The mutation in the article on the link,
is not the same as the MTHFR one. Look thru your test results and see if you have the specific mutation mentioned there and/or discuss with your doctor.

Low B12 in pregnant moms may lead to TypeII diabetes in children
 

Vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnancy could raise type 2 diabetes risk for children, study finds

This is a Yahoo item and they often are purged so I don't expect a long life on the net for this info.

Is this Study a Concern? Vitamin B6 and B12 Supplements Appear to Cause Cancer in Men
 

Alan and I saw this on TV the other day. Doesn't seem to affect women. But Alan only takes it once a week now. Maybe it has to do with men and testosterone levels?

Ah yes. Thank you for the validation.

When I was here some time back, I was shot down for mentioning this B12 cohort in PN therapy. Remember? I was told "B1 and only B1 all the way, baby." No. I also did my research, as I have no plans of being a cripple. Now everybody and every snake oiler is selling the B12 hypothesis. Haha. No loneliness is there, in being avant garde.

However, B12 will be of limited use, unless it is specifically indicated. I mean, get homocysteine (HCY) level and methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels checked, else false Puck the Phlebotomist is proven to be.

Also, if you are taking high B9, (folate/folic acid) you will mask B12 deficiency - it wont show. BUT you will continue to worsen your condition -- IFF B12 is indicated as a reason for it.

But, please allow me to post about my recent findings elsewhere, for the good of whoever may benefit.

Hi Mrs D. I was just looking into Methycobal as it was suggested by a friend. It is produced by the Eisai Co in Japan and quite expensive. The same company is listed on the research. https://www1.ndmctsgh.edu.tw/pharm/p.../005MET29E.pdf

I don't see any benefit for the brand you are posting about compared to others available for purchase. Their highest oral dose is 500mcg.... which is rather low for an oral form.

Orally 1000mcg is much better. Very little is absorbed orally so a large dose is necessary to deliver a very small amount.

PubMed Central, Table 1: Blood. 28 Sep 15; 112(6): 2214–2221. Prepublished online 28 Jul 7. doi: 1.1182/blood-28-3-4253

The above link is from a paper (the whole paper link is in the first post in the B12 information thread here)
It compares various oral forms of cobalamin treatments showing that only 13micrograms is bioavailable from an oral dose of 1000micrograms (1 milligram).

I bought the Puritan's new 5mg methylcobalamin several years ago to test it. I had a first test several years before to see if I needed it and tested at 875 at that time. I took the methyl 5mg once a day on an empty stomach for 3 months and then got a retest.
It came back as 1998 which was the maximum of that test range at the lab my doctor uses. My doctor was very surprised..she did not know this! So now that I am in my 70's I use the methylb12
once a week or so. Puritan's is not a flashy company so people assume it is so so. I've also purchased methyl 12 from Costco and the tablets seem identical (no imprint and chewable) I don't think there are alot of companies providing these tablets, I think just one or two who provide the generic form for others to buy and distribute.

I've been taking Methyl B-12 for years. It kicked my neuropathy to the curb and made me have the memory of an elephant. However, because of the latest reports of how it affects men, my husband stopped taking it.

Don't know what to make of this.

Melody

Thanks
 

Hi, there first time on this site. I want to thank you for posting info on B12. My Neur doctor just prescribed that to me today. I go for more testing. Everything I have read and after talking to the doc it is looking like TBI

What is TBI?

TBI = Traumatic Brain Injury
We have a forum for TBI here https://www.neurotalk.org/forum92/

High homocysteine. And does B12 increase folate levels?
 

Hi, I don't know if this thread is still active but it seemed the appropriate place to post this...

Does anyone know if taking B12 increases your folate as well?

I tried taking methylB12 for a few months which significantly boosted my B12 serum levels (started out low end of 'normal' range), although made no change to my PN symptoms (was worth a try). I was surprised to see that my folate levels had doubled and were no longer low despite not taking any folate supplements.

Also, before taking any B12 I had my local doc order a MMA and homocysteine blood test. My MMA was normal but my homocysteine was a little high. Doc had no idea what that meant so it didn't get followed up at all. My super googling skills tell me it can sometimes indicate a deficiency in B12, folate or B6... What kind of specialists knows about these things and can interpret this for me? I'm seeing a rheumatologist, neurologist and dietitian over the next few months.

Cheers

Very interesting. Thank you!. I read a book called VitaNutrients the author was Dr. Atkins who was famous for his low carb diet. Regardless if you like or don't' like this ideas on diets. His book on nutrients I thought was fascinating. He indicated that the thought process for the medical profession was a lack of various minerals or vitamins causes diseases. For example, the lack of Vitamin C causes scurvy. So the medical profession determines what was needed to avoid scurvy and that was the recommended amount. His point, while it may be true you need that much to avoid scurvy. His position was the body needed more to function properly. He did a lot of studying on this and quoted a lot of other doctors mentioning how the minimum people should really take and if you have a disease, then you would need more of certain items. I have taken his advice for increasing items like Fish Oil, Borage Oil, Flax Seed Oil, as well as Vitamin C, D etc. I suggest at least reading his book.

Can taking methylation supplements (B12 and folate) cause small fiber neuropathy or other neuropathies?


I know a deficiency of B12 can, but I test all normal (haven't done urine MMA). But I have had chronic muscle pain ever since taking relatively high doses of methylB12 and methylfolate. I wonder if taking either one somehow drained my B12 and caused SFN. I don't have typical neuropathy sensations, but some SFN symptoms and annecdotally, SFN can present with muscle pain.

I am not an expert, but while you are waiting for an expert to respond (we have many really marvelous people on this forum), consider that B12 is a water soluble vitamin. The body throws off any excess B12 that it doesn't need. Given that this is the case, I don't see how taking B12 can cause too much harm.

Good luck. :)

As Nervous has already stated B12 and Folate ( vitamin B9) are water soluble so they pass through our bodies quickly. B12 is key to nerve healing and regeneration. I take 1.5mg of Methyl Cobalamin daily (1500ug) I think your muscle soreness symptoms have arrived coincidentally and you are erroneously attributing this to B12 consumption. Consider a Magnesium supplement. It is good for both PN and muscle soreness.

Best wishes

Atty

Thank you both for your replies!

heard from my dr B12 is not good with feet neuropathy

that is not true