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Low B-12?

SunshineStateGirl

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SunshineStateGirl Newbie
SunshineStateGirl
Posted

Hi All --

Please forgive me if this is the wrong forum for this question!

I just tested negative for celiac (via blood work, my tTGA was <3 and my serum IgA was 232 -- so pretty unequivocally negative). But, in addition to some annoying GI symptoms (persistent soft stools, frequent diarrhea) I also suffer from anxiety (which manifests as butterflies in my stomach, inability to concentrate, low tolerance for sensory input). My anxiety has been constant for many years, despite an otherwise calm and happy life.

In addition, routine blood work just showed that I am very deficient in B-12. My level was only around 250, despite eating plenty of red meat, eggs, chicken, and fish AND taking a B-complex with over 600% of the RDA for B-12. My doctor agrees that I have an obvious absorption issue, but has no clue what's causing it. My vitamin D levels were also low (22), but my folate was normal. All other blood work (including iron and RBCs) were normal.

I know that celiac can cause issues with nutrient absorption (which is why I was tested), but would it be specific to B-12 and not folate? Can non-celiac gluten intolerance cause issues with nutrient absorption?

Help?

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ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted

These are the tests you need to have to rule out celiac:

Anti-gliadin (AGA) IgA

Anti-gliadin (AGA) IgG

Anto-Endomysial (EMA) IgA

Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG) IgA

Deamidated Gliadin Peptide (DGP) IgA and IgG

Total serum (IgA)

Your doctor only did the TTG and the total IGA.

You may want to ask him to do a full panel on you. Even with a full panel you can have a false negative.

You should also try taking a sublingual B12 to bring your levels up as a regular supplement may not be being absorbed.

Do not try the diet until all celiac related testing is done, including an endo if you are having one, and then give the diet a good strict trial for at least a couple of months.

addis001 Apprentice
addis001
Posted

If you have thyroid issues or adrenal gland issues.. I've heard B12 is a HUGE factor... I would get family doctor to test your thyroid, T3, T4, and antibodies.. Also your adrenal gland.. Then you need an endocrinologist.. Because it means you might have hasimoto's

SunshineStateGirl Newbie
SunshineStateGirl
Posted
  • Author

If you have thyroid issues or adrenal gland issues.. I've heard B12 is a HUGE factor... I would get family doctor to test your thyroid, T3, T4, and antibodies.. Also your adrenal gland.. Then you need an endocrinologist.. Because it means you might have hasimoto's

I actually just had a full physical, including a thyroid panel, and my thyroid is picture-perfect!!

modiddly16 Enthusiast
modiddly16
Posted

250 is actually in the normal range for b12 levels, albeit on the low end. I had been having problems for awhile and finally pinpointed a b12 deficiancy...my levels were 50 hahaha...It's been a year on the shots and I'm still only up to 209 but have also started taking b12 tablets. I have no other issues (like listed above) other than being a celiac..

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    • knitty kitty
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @Jane02, I hear you about the kale and collard greens.  I don't do dairy and must eat green leafies, too, to get sufficient calcium.  I must be very careful because some calcium supplements are made from ground up crustacean shells.  When I was deficient in Vitamin D, I took high doses of Vitamin D to correct the deficiency quickly.  This is safe and nontoxic.  Vitamin D level should be above 70 nmol/L.  Lifeguards and indigenous Pacific Islanders typically have levels between 80-100 nmol/L.   Levels lower than this are based on amount needed to prevent disease like rickets and osteomalacia. We need more thiamine when we're physically ill, emotionally and mentally stressed, and if we exercise like an athlete or laborer.  We need more thiamine if we eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates.  For every 500 kcal of carbohydrates, we need 500-1000 mg more of thiamine to process the carbs into energy.  If there's insufficient thiamine the carbs get stored as fat.  Again, recommended levels set for thiamine are based on minimum amounts needed to prevent disease.  This is often not adequate for optimum health, nor sufficient for people with absorption problems such as Celiac disease.  Gluten free processed foods are not enriched with vitamins like their gluten containing counterparts.  Adding a B Complex and additional thiamine improves health for Celiacs.  Thiamine is safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  Thiamine helps the mitochondria in cells to function.  Thiamine interacts with each of the other B vitamins.  They are all water soluble and easily excreted if not needed. Interesting Reading: Clinical trial: B vitamins improve health in patients with coeliac disease living on a gluten-free diet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19154566/ Safety and effectiveness of vitamin D mega-dose: A systematic review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34857184/ High dose dietary vitamin D allocates surplus calories to muscle and growth instead of fat via modulation of myostatin and leptin signaling https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38766160/ Safety of High-Dose Vitamin D Supplementation: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31746327/ Vitamins and Celiac Disease: Beyond Vitamin D https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11857425/ Investigating the therapeutic potential of tryptophan and vitamin A in modulating immune responses in celiac disease: an experimental study https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40178602/ Investigating the Impact of Vitamin A and Amino Acids on Immune Responses in Celiac Disease Patients https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10814138/
    • Jane02
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Jane02 · Posted

      Thank you so much @knitty kitty for this insightful information! I would have never considered fractionated coconut oil to be a potential source of GI upset. I will consider all the info you shared. Very interesting about the Thiamine deficiency.  I've tracked daily averages of my intake in a nutrition software. The only nutrient I can't consistently meet from my diet is vitamin D. Calcium is a hit and miss as I rely on vegetables, dark leafy greens as a major source, for my calcium intake. I'm able to meet it when I either eat or juice a bundle of kale or collard greens daily haha. My thiamine intake is roughly 120% of my needs, although I do recognize that I may not be absorbing all of these nutrients consistently with intermittent unintentional exposures to gluten.  My vitamin A intake is roughly 900% (~6400 mcg/d) of my needs as I eat a lot of sweet potato, although since it's plant-derived vitamin A (beta-carotene) apparently it's not likely to cause toxicity.  Thanks again! 
    • knitty kitty
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    • Scott Adams
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I do not know this, but since they are labelled gluten-free, and are not really a product that could easily be contaminated when making them (there would be not flour in the air of such a facility, for example), I don't really see contamination as something to be concerned about for this type of product. 
    • trents
      Desperately need a vitamin D supplement. I've reacted to most brands I've tried.

      By trents · Posted

      Contact them.
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