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Vitamin B12 deficiency - stages

Sat, 01/02/2010 - 18:50 — hugominney
Seven Categories of B12 Deficiency
Category of B12 deficiency
Solution
Dietary B12 Deficiency-Vegetarians, Vegans, Poor Diet  
B12 in the diet eg tablets, meat
Transient Cobalamin Deficiency
B12 replacement therapy* during the period of the problem
Functional Cobalamin Malabsorption
B12 replacement therapy by sublingual lozenges or drops (under the tongue should reach the blood stream more quickly) or by intramuscular injection
‘Subtle Cobalamin Deficiency’ Subnormal/Normal B12 level with symptoms
This may be because active- B12 in the blood is low but the total B12 in the blood is still normal. It’s important to get more B12 into the blood stream so that it can add to the active B12 – though if the problem is with the TransCobalamin II (TC-2) then you would need to do something about that
Subclinical Cobalamin Deficiency without signs or symptoms
Where the blood serum B12 is low we believe that damage is being done to the cells even if signs and symptoms aren’t reported by the person. We believe that you should take action to bring the blood serum B12 up eg with dietary supplements or intramuscular injection
Clinical B12 Deficiency (with mild to moderate Neuro-Psychiatric symptoms) B12 level<200<300ng/l with or without related features (gastro-intestinal, Haem etc)
Whilst the neuro-psychiatric symptoms are still mild we believe it is possible to reverse them, but if this window of opportunity is missed then the symptoms may become permanent. Treatment should certainly start now, and if you are already receiving treatment and symptoms start showing, then consider whether the treatment is working or whether you need to try something more effective. For example moving from B12 tablets (dietary supplement) to injections, or from cyano-cobalamin to hydroxo-cobalamin or methyl-cobalamin
Clinically significant B12 Deficiency (with moderate to severe Neuro-Psychiatric Symptoms) B12 level <200ng/l – with other related features(gastro-intestinal, Haem etc)
You probably very uncomfortable by this stage. Treatment should be started, or if you already on treatment, then you should have a look at what treatment would be better for you. For example if you on the B12 tablets dietary supplement, then try injections: if you are using cyanocobalamin, then consider Hydroxocobalamin or methyl cobalamin.
 

 

Most Recent Five Posts

Title Post date Teaser
Poem: B12 deficiency - a silent death Tue, 08/31/2010 - 20:28

I am, I see, I think and I feel why does no one recognise me.
I want to shout out in the darkness
'Why the loneliness, isolation and a desperate helplessness;
Please someone comfort me'.
Are you B12-deficient? Fri, 08/06/2010 - 11:24

The first stage is to check your Signs and Symptoms.  Symptoms of B12 deficiency are generally non-specific, that is, they could be caused by a number of different things.  It's only when you have a number of different symptoms, occurring at the same time, that it makes sense to look for a common cause such as B12 deficiency.
Why is B12 deficiency more common now? Fri, 08/06/2010 - 11:05

I have a theory.  Now I must tell you that I’m not a doctor and have no medical qualifications so I can’t advise you; but I can share my experience.  In the past, Caucasians (white Europeans and colonists) got our B12 from meat.  People living nearer the equator had more vegetables in their diet, so if they weren’t really efficient at “scavenging” B12 – recycling i
Entero-hepatic circulation of B12 – or Why don’t vegetarians get B12 deficiency? Wed, 08/04/2010 - 16:25

When you stop eating B12 in your diet (for example by becoming a vegetarian), you may not notice if it on your B12 level for 10 years or more.
Conversely, when you develop a condition like pernicious anaemia, the effects can be devastating and very fast. We wondered why this was?
Pernicious Anaemia and B12 deficiency Wed, 07/28/2010 - 10:55

 Dr Chandy and I travelled to Bridgend to provide video interviews for the Pernicious Anaemia society. They have assembled some really top-quality people for these interviews, including local GPs and many experts in the field -- we were delighted to be invited.