[jazzmynn]

I know nothing about this deficiency, but my dr says my b12 is low. What are some symptoms and could I have had it for a long time and nobody knew?

[Jomar]

[The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine recommends the following dietary intake for vitamin B 12:

Infants

* 0 - 6 months: 0.4 micrograms per day (mcg/day)
* 7 - 12 months: 0.5 mcg/day

Children

* 1 - 3 years: 0.9 mcg/day
* 4 - 8 years: 1.2 mcg/day
* 9 - 13 years: 1.8 mcg/day

Adolescents and Adults

* Males and females age 14 and older: 2.4 mcg/day

Specific recommendations depend on age, gender, and other factors (such as pregnancy). Women who are pregnant or producing breast milk (lactating) need higher amounts. Ask your health care provider which amount is best for you.]

more details -
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/e...cle/002403.htm

[glenntaj]

--though many of the American lab reference ranges would include it in a "normal" range.

In Japan and much of Europe, the "normal" range starts at 500-550 (and many of these ranges have no upper limit, as B12 has no known toxicity level; once the liver has stored to capacity the rest will be excreted).

The symptoms of B12 deficiency are very wide-ranging and can range from subtle to patently obvious.

Take a look at:

http://roseannster.googlepages.com/home

http://www.paulgolding.id.au/

http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com/

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread85103.html
(This last one is accessible through the "Useful Websites" area at the tip of this subforum.)

[jccgf]

Hi Jazzmynn,

Different people may become symptomatic at different levels, but I had been having symptoms for 3-5 years before my B12 was tested... and it was 294. Too Low! even though technically it fell within the "normal" range of 150-1100.

Here were the symptoms I had:
http://jccglutenfree.googlepages.com...ciencysymptoms

The standard dose for someone with B12 deficiency is 1000-2000mcg daily of oral B12, preferably the methylcobalamin type of the vitamin. 1000 mcg is 16,666% of the RDA, but that amount is needed to insure that enough will be absorbed. Most people who are B12 deficient have pernicious anemia and lack the intrinsic factor needed to process B12 normally. The huge doses are imperative.

There are other cause of B12 deficiency, though, including malabsorption syndromes like celiac disease, continuous use of acid blockers, nitrous oxide exposure, tapeworms, some medications deplete B12, etc.

Good for you to have a doctor who recognized that a low normal B12 level is not ok. Many people are not so lucky.

What are your symptoms?

Cara