what happens if my vitamin b-12 level is low?

Question

i been to my doctor and got told my b -12 level are low and and dint give me any tratmeat. so can you tell me how low has it got to be to get tratmeat

Answer 1

You can buy some vitamin B-12 tablets but also take a B-complex with it that has all of the B vitamins in it to balance it out.
You could find B-12 in a sublingual tablet that you dissolve under your tongue then it gets into your system better. In stead of the kind you swallow. Go to a good health food store or you can order on line.

Answer 2

IMKatrina, A low B12 level cannot cause pernicious anaemia.
Pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune disease that results in a low B12 level (because you cannot absorb it|), so they are related, but the other way around.

Vitamin B12 is one of the substances found in your blood which is used to make red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body, and if you have too few, it is called being anaemic.

In lots of answers on this forum, people mistakenly say that being anaemic means having low iron. This is wrong. Low iron can cause anaemia, and so can low B12.

I would only treat a low B12 level if it was either causing anemia, causing other symptoms, or extremely low.

Other symptoms it can cause are peripheral neuropathy - typically a buring pain in the feet and legs.

Causes of low B12 can be poor dietary inatke, but his is VERY RARE unless you are a vegan, so eating more of it won't help. Nor will taking supplement tablets without further tests. This is because the problem is usually that B12 cannot be absorbed properly, so you won't absorb it from the supplements.

I would investigate low B12 wiht the following:

1) Check full blood count - ?anaemic
2) Check for pernicious anaemia - this is a blood test
3) Medication check - some tablets for gastric ulcers can cuase low B12
4) Alcohol history - boozers can have low B12
5) Check for small bowel pathology eg Crohn's, parasites - some of these can interfere with B12 absoption.

Hope this is helpful,

Jen

Source: Haematologist


Edited to say: People keep recommending taking B vitamin supplements. This is unlikely to be helpful as this is nearly always an absorption problem.
I know it's difficult to listen to advice on the internet because you don't know who's giving it (although I really am a haematologist!) - discuss this with you own doctor.

And everyone - please, if your doctor tells you something you don't understand - ask them, don't just ask on here!! We really don't mind being asked to clarify things. If you feel that you can't ask your doctor to explain something then maybe you need to switch doctors to one you find more approachable.

Answer 3

DocJen's answer is good and true (I used to also work in haemaology). I guess your doctor not worried so perhaps all other tests for anaemia etc were normal, and your B12 is only just on low side of normal. If this is the case a good vitamin supplement or increasing the amount from your diet intake may be worth a try.
Good diet sources of vitamin B12 include liver, brewer's yeast, spirulina and the japanese seaweeds "Wakame" or "kombu.
It's possibly also worth incresing the amount of green leafy vegetables in your diet as these have loads of folate, and folate and vit B12 are closely related and both are needed by your blood cells

Answer 4

Your "treatment" for this can go two ways
you can request that your doctor give you a B-12 injection
OR you can opt to take a fairly high level dose of B-12 vitamins that you should be able to purchase at any pharmacy !!!

B-12 is a vitamin--- in the simplest terms--- that helps your body absorb and use the nutrients and minerals that are contained in the food that you eat--- it is like a sparkplug utility to your ability to fully use the energy that you are taking in with the food you eat !!
When your levels of this vitamin get really low--- your energy level will usually go down with it !!!

Answer 5

my sister has low b-12 vitamin, and has to have 3 injections a week for the first 3 months, then depending on how she is they will continue for up to 6 months. She was really ill, looked anorexic had no energy and slept all the time. She even lost the feeling in the left side of her face.
on the bright side, she is getting better.
Keep on at your doctor, and if he doesn't help, ask for a second opinion

Answer 6

If it is low both further investigation and treatment are required. If a patients B12 level is low additional blood should be taken for Intrinsic factor antibody and Parietal cell antibody. If these are positive the patient has pernicious anaemia and B12 is needed by injection. If they are normal the deficiency may be dietary, in this case an oral supplement may be sufficient.

Answer 7

A minor addition to DrJen's comprehensive response. One caution for anyone wtih low B12 is to avoid taking folic acid (folate) or any supplement which contains folic acid unless you are told to take this by your haematologist. Folic acid and B12 are involved in very similar pathways in blood cell production. This is a problem because folic acid can correct the anaemia, masking symptoms of B12 deficiency, but it does nothing to prevent damage to the nervous system. In the worst case scenario a person taking folic acid may completely correct their anaemia but experience irreversible nerve damage.

I am a haematology biomedical scientist by training and have an MSc in Clinical Oncology

Answer 8

Low vitamin b-12 levels can cause possible aneamia etc. Your doctor MAY NOT have given any treatment as it could possibly be rectified by diet. Consult your doctor for further information or see a dietician.

Answer 9

Im low on B12 and have monthly injections from my Dr's - but i was really ill and went down to under 8 stone before they would do anything - since having the jabs ive felt more awake and have much more energy its great!
Spk to your dr - if you dont get anywhere i know there are B12 vitimin tablets you can buy over the counter at the chemist.

Answer 10

A deficiency in vit b12 could cause pernicious anemia or neurologic degeneration. It is a water soluble vitamin and is stored very little in the body. There are B complex vitamins available, and you may increase your animal meat or animal food products intake as dietary sources.