update

[sparky912]

Hi to those who replied to my last post

My results are back and my B12 level is a little low but not enough to cause the symptoms i've been having so the doctor is refering me to a neurologist.

Sparky

[Red_Star]

Hi sparky, well 183 is in symptomatic levels regards of the measurement.  You want to get your levels right up to optimal - over 800pg/mL or 600pmol/L. I have permanent nerve damage going down to 122pmol/L which is 165pg/mL.  In my case it was due to a rare condition called juvenile pernicious anaemia.

Youtube:  BBC Inside Out 30Oct2006 - Vitamin B12 Deficiency.

Book: Could It Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses by Sally M. Pacholok RN and Jeffrey J. Stuart DO.

An excellent article entitled "B12 deficiency: a silent epidemic with serious consequences" by Chris Kresser.

"B12 deficiency is often missed for two reasons. First, it’s not routinely tested by most physicians. Second, the low end of the laboratory reference range is too low. This is why most studies underestimate true levels of deficiency. Many B12 deficient people have so-called “normal” levels of B12.

Yet it is well-established in the scientific literature that people with B12 levels between 200 pg/mL and 350 pg/mL – levels considered “normal” in the U.S. – have clear B12 deficiency symptoms. Experts who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of B12 deficiency, like Sally Pacholok R.N. and Jeffery Stewart D.O., suggest treating all patients that are symptomatic and have B12 levels less than 450 pg/mL. They also recommend treating patients with normal B12, but elevated urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA), homocysteine and/or holotranscobalamin (other markers of B12 deficiency).

In Japan and Europe, the lower limit for B12 is between 500-550 pg/mL, the level associated with psychological and behavioral manifestations such as cognitive decline, dementia and memory loss. Some experts have speculated that the acceptance of higher levels as normal in Japan and the willingness to treat levels considered “normal” in the U.S. explain the low rates of Alzheimer’s and dementia in that country."

[sparky912]

Hi Lisa

He didn't really tell me anything about the effects of B12 deficiency at different levels. I think that in England they measure it differently as he told me that the levels should be between 191 - 600, my level is 183. He told me that the neurological symptoms i am having are not caused by the B12 level as its not low enough to have that kind of effect. For now he wants to monitor the levels and try to get it to rise by what i eat.

He also didn't really say why it could be low, just that it might be something to do with my stomach and they would do some investigations.

I will post when I find out more.

Sparky

[LisaJF]

Thanks for the update.  I am sure your primary informed you that everyone's B12 level is different and everyone responds to it differently.  For instance, a B12 level at 250, a person may feel paresthesias, tingling on back of tongue or uvula (the dangly thing in back of throat), ataxia (off balance), walking in a dark room and falling over, involuntary muscle jerking, etc.  And you can have a person at a 250 level of B12 who does not experience these symptoms.  I've had a couple Neuro specialists who state they like to see the B12 at 500 and above.

It is amazing what a low B12 can produce and after awhile it can become worse.  

I would go out on the limb here and ask, "why is your B12 low?"  Diet? Alcohol? Pernicious Anemia?  There can be many causes.  Obviously, replacement of B12 is ideal to a level that is acceptable (500) is a good start.  

I'm glad you're going to a Neurologist to investigate this further.  Let us know how it goes!

Good luck to you

Lisa