Demyelination from MS vs Vit B12 deficiency

I was wondering if one can tell the difference between the Demyelination from MS vs vit B12 deficiency. My Vit B12 levels came out below normal.

[Lulu54]

Jenny,
It would take your B12 levels to be significantly low to create serious symptoms - getting B12 (injections I believe) should raise your levels and if it's causing your symptoms they would dissipate.  

B-12 deficiency doesn't cause demyelination, if that was part of your question. But the tingling, zapping and fatigue can mimic MS symptoms.  There's probably a whole lot more that others can tell you....
my best,
Lulu

[jenny34644]

Hi Lulu,
Thanks for your answer. From what I've read the demyelination from B12 deficiency and MS looks the same. I have celiac too, so now I am wondering about all of this. I found this article tht is interesting.

Vitamin B12, demyelination, remyelination and repair in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and vitamin B12 deficiency share common inflammatory and neurodegenerative pathophysiological characteristics. Due to similarities in the clinical presentations and MRI findings, the differential diagnosis between vitamin B12 deficiency and MS may be difficult. Additionally, low or decreased levels of vitamin B12 have been demonstrated in MS patients. Moreover, recent studies suggest that vitamin B12, in addition to its known role as a co-factor in myelin formation, has important immunomodulatory and neurotrophic effects. These observations raise the questions of possible causal relationship between the two disorders, and suggest further studies of the need to close monitoring of vitamin B12 levels as well as the potential requirement for supplementation of vitamin B12 alone or in combination with the immunotherapies for MS patients.

[ninamagic]

For what it's worth, I've heard of people with B12 deficiency symptoms with blood levels of B12 in the normal to low normal range - AND they improved with B12 supplementation. B12 is pretty innocuous, so especially with celiac where you might be malabsorbing, you might want to try some sublingual B12 tablets for a while to see if they make a difference. Testing for B12 deficiency properly is much harder than just testing blood levels. You need to also test MMA - here is a link for info: http://www.news-medical.net/news/2004/10/28/5908.aspx

[ninamagic]

Oops, I guess that should have gone to Jenny instead of Lulu. Sorry. ;-)

[Heather3418]

Nina makes a good point.  Sublingual B-12 may be absorbed more readily by your body since you have celiac disease.

And you're right, B-12 is a very important vitamin for immunomodulatory and neurotrophic effects to work properly in the body.

Best Wishes,
Heather

[essdipity]

This is something I've looked into for quite some time. A B12 level slightly low will not cause major symptoms--the lower it gets the worse the symptoms, though.

Also, and maybe more importantly, from everything I've been able to find, with low B12 there are no relapses and remissions. Since at least towards the beginning, the vast majority of MS does involve RR, this helps to rule out a B12 problem.

There are various possible causes for this vitamin deficiency, including autoimmune issues, so it's a good idea to pursue this vigorously.

ess

[Wulfher]

cannot B12 remissions occur with varying levels of b12, i.e. taking supplements for a while and then stopping?

[mpatel81]

I know this is a really old post but i wondered if anyone knew about a relapse in B12 deficiency when supplements were withdrawn?

i did hear that B12 levels stay high for a while even after supplements are stopped. Is anyone aware if this is the case when there are problems absorbing B12?

[Kate548]

All those with MS like symptoms should have their Vitamin D levels checked! This is one key that not many are mentioning here. If you live above the equator you are most likely low in Vit. D, and MS incidents in places like Africa are rare! It is interesting to note that when an African moves to somewhere the sun doesn't shine so much that they wind up with MS! B12 is also of importance, but I believe that Vitamin D levels are a more necessary thing to test for. If you don't believe me do a search online with "MS + Vitamin D" and see what you come up with!
Also if you are a women who is in Menopause or Peri-Menopause you should include progesterone in your online search too for shawn cells need progesterone to help repair the mylein sheath!

[COBOB]

Actually, that is not true.  It seems that the location you live from birth to about 14 has a relationship to the development of MS, but moving after that time does not.  Be careful assigning cause and effect to data.  Researchers have been been looking at D3, B6 and B12 for years.  No causal link has been made.  Low B12 can damage nerves.  High B12 does nothing to repair nerves.

Also, recent research has shown that sometimes, demyelination id not the only issue with MS.  Even with the myelin intact, there are times when the axon under goes degradation and destruction inside the myelin sheath.

All sorts a pseudo-science and junk science come up in Google searches,  

Bob