[photogal]

that must be why my doc said to do the shots every 3 days?

[Idiopathic PN]

Originally Posted by mrsD

2500mcg = 2.5 milligrams

This is not completely absorbed, orally.

And yes, there is no upper limit set for B12 by the FDA.

If you take it for 3 months and see no improvement at all,
you can assume you don't need it. You can then take it
once or twice a week, to maintain.
You should really get the numbers from your test for a definite
answer.

Not all PNers have low B12 (below 400 US units).

Hi MrsD,

I got a copy of my vitb12 result today. It was taken last June 2011 ... its 908. It seems within normal range. Just the same I started taking vitb12 (methycobalamin) last mid Feb/2012 at 2500mcg . When I read your post that there is no toxicity of overdose, I increased it to 5000mcg.

Though there is no overdose, is there a safe maximum mcg that one can take in a day?

Thank you so much.

[mrsD]

Oh, I think 5000mcg is plenty for most people, if they are careful and take it on an empty stomach.

If you are absorbing it, it should show a large increase in blood work after 3 months or so. If it does not, something is wrong.

I tested at the end of the range from a hospital lab, after 3months on 5mg a day, oral. So now I cut back to 2 or 3 times a week instead. (1999 level).

Keep in mind that B12 is not the only thing to try. It is just the main/most common deficiency that is hidden for most people with neurological problems.

People with DNA errors in methylation, will require methylfolate as well instead of folic acid.

[Idiopathic PN]

Originally Posted by mrsD

Oh, I think 5000mcg is plenty for most people, if they are careful and take it on an empty stomach.

If you are absorbing it, it should show a large increase in blood work after 3 months or so. If it does not, something is wrong.

I tested at the end of the range from a hospital lab, after 3months on 5mg a day, oral. So now I cut back to 2 or 3 times a week instead. (1999 level).

Keep in mind that B12 is not the only thing to try. It is just the main/most common deficiency that is hidden for most people with neurological problems.

People with DNA errors in methylation, will require methylfolate as well instead of folic acid.

Dear Mrs. D,

Thank you so much.

My folate test taken also last June/2011 was greater than 19.9.

I will have it tested again in 3 months. Since my numbers on vitb12 and folate serum were fine last June and I am taking 5000mcg, I guess I will just need to lower it down.

What would be the dosage if its for maintenance?

Mrs D, I am in the process of actively pursuing to find the cause of my neuropathy.

Meantime, I am taking the supplements that are recommended in your posts. I truly hope they will help me. I also hope for my thyroid function to normalize so I can take the r lipoic.

I followed your suggestion to take vitd3 because of my time limitation in taking calcium. I am now on calcium 600 with VitD 400 and an add'l VitD 2000. You think this is okay?

You don't know how grateful I am to your time in answering my questions.

This forum has become my source of information and hope.





ll have it tested again in 3 months.

[mrsD]

I am in the process of researching folic acid vs methylfolate.

I'll give you the link that karsten sent me about how folic acid may interfere with folate activation and use of methylfolate, esp at the blood brain barrier.

I believe the blood work that most labs do does not differentiate between the two. So at this point I am unsure if people reporting
"good" folate levels, really reflect folate and not both folic acid and methylfolate mixed. This is a long article and uses words like "may, could, possibly" quite a bit.

http://www.ajcn.org/content/87/3/517.long

Most of the people who come here with test results typically show normal or high folate in testing. But actually we don't know which folates are being tested.

See what happens in the future with your D that you posted. That is the only way to know.

[Idiopathic PN]

Originally Posted by mrsD

I am in the process of researching folic acid vs methylfolate.

I'll give you the link that karsten sent me about how folic acid may interfere with folate activation and use of methylfolate, esp at the blood brain barrier.

I believe the blood work that most labs do does not differentiate between the two. So at this point I am unsure if people reporting
"good" folate levels, really reflect folate and not both folic acid and methylfolate mixed. This is a long article and uses words like "may, could, possibly" quite a bit.

http://www.ajcn.org/content/87/3/517.long

Most of the people who come here with test results typically show normal or high folate in testing. But actually we don't know which folates are being tested.

See what happens in the future with your D that you posted. That is the only way to know.

Mrs. D, my test simply says: "Folate (folic acid) serum", which means that you are correct, it does not differentiate between folate and folic acid. Is there a test that will show a break down between folate and folic? If yes, what is the name of the test, so I can mention it to my doctor for possible inclusion in my bloodwork.

As always, thank you.

[mrsD]

The article mentions testing for each one separately.

But I don't know if it is available for people outside research communities, etc.

The folic acid/folate thing is rather new, and comes to attention because of food fortification with folic acid (synthetic), and the
new attention on the DNA polymorphisms that genetically hamper
methylation of B12 and folic acid. These things are all happening at once, and it takes time to reach clinical physicians seeing patients.

I don't have an answer for the folic acid/folate question yet.

[khakis]

Hi, I new to this site--hope I can ask this here. I keep seeing places where it talks about folic acid masking b12 deficiency. Does this mean it can alter serum b12 levels? I have ALL the symptoms of B12 deficiency, incl. being a vegetarian and taking metformin for 10 years. My Dr was convinced too but the serum b12 came back ">1000" (High). My folic acid is also high. I do take a multi with both.
The only thing abnormal in my labs was my TSH at 9.45. I have had Hashimoto's 15 years, medicated, but had a bad rise for some reason. I'm praying that's the cause of my terrible nerve pain. A Physiatrist diagnosed as TOS, though we haven't done an EMG or nerve cond study etc. And advice/wisdom appreciated.

[lifesentance]

I am so going to try this for myself and my daughter

[mrsD]

Originally Posted by khakis

Hi, I new to this site--hope I can ask this here. I keep seeing places where it talks about folic acid masking b12 deficiency. Does this mean it can alter serum b12 levels? I have ALL the symptoms of B12 deficiency, incl. being a vegetarian and taking metformin for 10 years. My Dr was convinced too but the serum b12 came back ">1000" (High). My folic acid is also high. I do take a multi with both.
The only thing abnormal in my labs was my TSH at 9.45. I have had Hashimoto's 15 years, medicated, but had a bad rise for some reason. I'm praying that's the cause of my terrible nerve pain. A Physiatrist diagnosed as TOS, though we haven't done an EMG or nerve cond study etc. And advice/wisdom appreciated.

I would wonder why your B12 tested high? Do you take vitamins? Eat alot of fortified cereals, like Total?

There are things such as lab errors!

Folate is usually high when B12 is low.

B12 may be elevated when no supplements are taken, from some uncommon disease states:
some blood cancers
dysbiosis of the GI tract (overgrowth of some organisms)
kidney disease (elevated in some patients and not others).

I would have it retested, and also a MMA test added. MMA shows if the B12 is actually working. Some believe it is more accurate.
http://labtestsonline.org/understand...s/mma/tab/test

Homocysteine is useful but often not covered by insurances.