Does Low B12 and MS run in families??

Hi,
I have been reading a lot of the old posts on low B12. I have a few questions.

I too have low B12 (308) and MS. My folate was 21.9 and Vit D 26. I also had low RBC 3.7

My 22 yr old daughter just had her blood work done, so I told her to ask for B12, folate and Vit D level.
Her results were B12 220, Folate 13, Vit D 51

Does low B12 run in families? Should I have the rest of my children checked? Could this mean I don't have MS? Or....does this increase the possiblity that my daughter will get MS?

Thank You

[Queenfan]

I had a comment on the Limboland forum that said that low B12 might and/or could cause a multitude of MS type symptoms.  I just had a draw on Thurs for "m.a.h." levels(?) to determine if I'm even absorbing B12 like I'm supposed to be.  This was my 2nd visit w/ a neuro and the last time I was there, I got pills and a pat on the head.  I'm thankful that the man came to his senses and decided to look into this further before I felt the need to cosh him on the head.

I'm going to put this thread on my watch list, for I too am curious about it.

Best wishes to you and your daughter,
Sue

[daisy.girl]

thanks for responding....

your m.a.h is two tests:
methylmalonic acid
homocysteine

and yes they are actually a better indicator of low B12 then just the B12 serum test.

God Bless.

[Audrey_M]

B-12 deficiencies can be hereditary. I am Factor V Leiden homozygous, meaning that I am at higher risks for blood clots. The gene was passed to me by my mother. She is also deficient in B-12 and folic acid, so I was tested for those as well, but came up in the normal range. A B-12 deficiency would put me at even higher risk of clots.

B-12 deficiencies are also associated with demyelinating disease.

As for having the rest of your children tested, I would discuss this with your doctor, taking their ages into consideration and insurance ramifications. The new health care bill, with its pre-existing conditions clause, has yet to go into effect.

That's my two cents, for whatever it is worth.

[essdipity]

Certainly pernicious anemia runs in families. As you probably know, PA is caused by lack of intrinsic factor, which enables the absorption of B12. So no matter how much B12-rich food you ingest, it cannot be metabolized properly. PA is considered an autoimmune disease, and the only effective treatment is life-long B12 shots. A pretty easy remedy on the whole.

Actually, low B12 is sort of a relative thing. Yours isn't really far down at all, and your daughter's is low but not terribly so. Only a few years ago 200 was considered the cut-off point. Now many labs are reporting it as closer to 400. So the question is, how low does it need to be to cause neuro symptoms. I'm just speculating, but I feel pretty confident that yours is too high for that, meaning your MS symptoms are from MS :-)

Another consideration is that B12 deficiency does not present with a relapsing/remitting pattern. So if you have been diagnosed with RRMS, that's a way to distinguish the two.

ess

[daisy.girl]

I am dx with RRMS.

My doctor said probably PA, but did not order further testing, just the B12 injections, which I have been doing since Jan.

I feel no different from the injections since Jan.

I am just more concerned at this point for my daughter. From what I have read PA in someone that young is very unusual, unless congenital.....then are all my kids at risk?

She is the type that complaines about everything, so we have teasingly called her a hypochrondriac....now there is a reason she is always tired and everything aches.

I pray that she doesn't have or get MS.

How often does MS show up in the children of someone diagnosed?

[essdipity]

PA, I'm pretty sure, is not congenital, but autoimmune. It is the most common cause of B12 deficiency, although congenital deficiency is also possible.

Fortunately it's easy to test for this, and easy to remedy. Some doctors believe that oral B12 supplements are sufficient. Is your daughter on any kind of B12, and if so, how is she doing?

As to MS, the probability of developing it if one has a first-degree relative with MS (parent/child, sibling) is about 3 or 4%. Although that's pretty low, it's much higher than the general 1 in 750 reported in the US.

Remember also that the chief symptoms of B12 deficiency are sensory problems and mood/cog disturbances. If you or your daughter has muscular or movement issues as well, that would be a good reason to look elsewhere for a reason.

ess

[daisy.girl]

thanks for the responses....

My daughter went to the doc this week, and they are going to run a few more blood tests.
She has not start any official treatment yet....but I did give her a B12 injection.

Anyone here with Pernicious Anemia and MS?

Also, anyone with MS that has a relative with MS too?

[LATW]

I had a great aunt with MS.

LA dx'd MS