B12 Test

[Jennhaz]

What is the B12 blood test called? If I had problems with B12 absorption would they of picked that up in my other bloodwork like Red Blood Cell count? Also can I use Colgate toothpast Total whitening? Thanks guys..Jenn

[ravenwoodglass]

What is the B12 blood test called? If I had problems with B12 absorption would they of picked that up in my other bloodwork like Red Blood Cell count? Also can I use Colgate toothpast Total whitening? Thanks guys..Jenn

Hi Jenn I don't know about Colgate but the test for B12 is called just that. Ask them to check you B12 levels and while they are at it have them check folate and iron as well.

[jerseyangel]

Colgate Toothpaste is gluten-free.

[VintageChick]

What is the B12 blood test called? If I had problems with B12 absorption would they of picked that up in my other bloodwork like Red Blood Cell count? Also can I use Colgate toothpast Total whitening? Thanks guys..Jenn

Are you thinking of the Methamalonic Acid test?

[DeeTee33]

What is the B12 blood test called? If I had problems with B12 absorption would they of picked that up in my other bloodwork like Red Blood Cell count? Also can I use Colgate toothpast Total whitening? Thanks guys..Jenn

BEWARE of some of the Colgate Toothpastes. I think it was the Whitening one with Baking Soda and Peroxide i tried, it gave me the worse mouth ulcers/kanker sores. The more I used it the more I got. They got worse until I put 2 & 2 together and stopped useing Colgate and went back to Crest.

I have never had a problem with Crest Toothpastes.

Good luck, it's a lot of trial and error. Some companies will tell you there product is gluten-free and you find out it's not. I still love the email I received from Ketal One Vodka company telling me it was gluten-free, but made with 100% Wheat. Go figure.

[penguin]

BEWARE of some of the Colgate Toothpastes. I think it was the Whitening one with Baking Soda and Peroxide i tried, it gave me the worse mouth ulcers/kanker sores. The more I used it the more I got. They got worse until I put 2 & 2 together and stopped useing Colgate and went back to Crest.

I have never had a problem with Crest Toothpastes.

Good luck, it's a lot of trial and error. Some companies will tell you there product is gluten-free and you find out it's not. I still love the email I received from Ketal One Vodka company telling me it was gluten-free, but made with 100% Wheat. Go figure.

With the toothpaste, it probably wasn't gluten that got you. There are a lot of chemicals in toothpaste, especially whitening ones, and you probably reacted to something like that. Not all reactions are caused by gluten.

Also, Ketel One vodka is gluten-free, even though it is made from 100% wheat. The distillation process doesn't allow for a huge protein like gluten to get into the final product. If you do a search on alcohol on this forum you'll see the whole debate about it.

[YankeeDB]

The "B12 Test" is Methamalonic Acid as VintageChick noted in this thread. It is NOT part of any of the standard blood test panels and so must be requested separately.

It was my B12 deficiency that first got me on the research path that led to my celiac diagnosis. Even gluten-free I have trouble with B12 absorption (2.5 years gluten-free) so I continue to supplement it.

Note that B12 is water soluable so there is no (less?) worry about taking too much. It is also cheap and easy to find. I like the sublingual format.

[jerseyangel]

Another thought about the toothpaste--most of them have Sodium Laurel Sulfate in them. This is a detergent that can be irritating to some people. Health food type stores carry brands that do not have this ingredient--you need to read the labels, though. Colgate toothpaste does not have gluten.

[blueeyedmanda]

I used to be a lab tech and it was called B12 and like someone suggested have the folate checked as well. It can be run off the same vile of blood. 98% of the time I saw Dr's ordering those tests together. RBC is not something that would show if your B12 levels are high/low. RBC just is looking at your blood counts in general, for the WBC if they are too low your body can't fight the infections. Hope this helps.

I can't help with the Crest issue, I use Arm and Hammer with baking soda

[slpinsd]

my b-12 def. was diagnosed through a vitamin b-12 blood test. it is not usally included in a regular CBC. If it was causing a significant anemia, that may show up in decreased RBC's, but you can have a b12 deficiency without anemia.

if your blood test looks low or you are having b12 def symptoms, they should run further testing, like antiparietal, or antiintrinsic factor antibodies to see if you have underlying pernicious anemia causing the deficiency.

[slpinsd]

Hi Floridian-

Thanks for the info. I recently got a book called, "Could it be B12?" I may have pernicious anemia. I am going to be going in for some more testing. My levels were found very low- at 48, but I don't know of any positive family history. How were you diagnosed? Was it givng you symptoms? Is it common for the two- Celiac and Pernicious Anemia- to occur together?

This I am an expert at! I have Pernicious Anemia (can't absorb B12) Intrinsic factor is a glycoprotein secreted by parietal (humans) or chief (rodents) cells of the gastric mucosa. In humans, it has an important role in the absorption of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) in the intestine, and failure to produce or utilize intrinsic factor results in the condition pernicious anemia. I have to have Cyanocobalamin 1.0ml injections the rest of my life.

Many cells in our body need vitamin B-12, including nerve cells and blood cells. Inadequate vitamin B-12 gradually affects sensory and motor nerves, causing neurological problems to develop over time. It is important to know that the neurological effects of vitamin B-12 deficiency may be seen before anemia is diagnosed.

The anemia also affects the gastrointestinal system and the cardiovascular system. The following symptoms may indicate pernicious anemia:

shortness of breath

fatigue

pallor

rapid heart rate

loss of appetite

diarrhea

tingling and numbness of hands and feet

sore mouth

unsteady gait, especially in the dark

tongue problems

impaired sense of smell

bleeding gums

positive Babinski's reflex

loss of deep tendon reflexes

personality changes, "megaloblastic madness"

Tests that may indicate pernicious anemia include:

CBC results that show low hematocrit and hemoglobin with elevated MCV (low red blood cell count with large-sized red blood cells)

CBC showing low white blood count and low platelets

low reticulocyte count

bone marrow examination (only needed if diagnosis is unclear)

serum LDH

below normal serum vitamin B-12 level

Schilling test

measurement of serum holotranscobalamin II

measurment of methylmalonic acid (MMA)

Hope this helps!