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Regev.
Is it possible to inject sufficient Methylcobalamine to last 1 month instead of once a day? Also, in the past I have found the pharmacies in US all want a Rx for syringes, making it necessary to get an RX for syringes and for injectable saline. That adds cost to your price for Methylcobalamine, if I can even find a Dr to Rx it. I am in the US and it doesnt seem that there has been as much research here as in your country. I have been looking off and on for 40 years for a healthcare practitioner here that is interested in looking at alternative Cobalamin, but they all seem to say Cyanocobalamin and there is nothing else. So I alternate between giving up & new searches as I get weird symptoms of PA off & on even though my blood test says I have enough B12, but my blood cell count fors not show that. So now because Im 71 they say any symptoms are typical of my age without realizing I have had PA & taking Cyanocobalamin since I was 31!
Altogether very frustrating.
Thank you!
My wife ( P.A. for six years.) has two- monthly injections at her surgery given by her nurse, and more often than not she still has terrible bouts of extreme fatigue, disorientation, crying, and feels she can no longer go on. She endures much mental and physical anguish and I would appreciate any advice on how one can improve her quality of life.
Exceedingly concerned husband. TOM.😥😰
I need to know what kind of saline to purchase for mixing the b12 powder. There are different percentages of sodium chloride out there.
Hello and thank you so much. I recently requested a B 12 test after seeing specialist after specialist after specialist and all my test coming back normal B 12 however was 180. My hematologist is recommending 1000 mg be 12 injections one time a week for a month and then retest does this sound like a good plan to you? I’m also wondering if you can tell me how B12 affect sleep because I’ve been having a really difficult time sleeping as well and I’ve heard that it has to do with how B12 supports the melatonin process?
I developed a very severe form of anemia after being a vegan for four and a half years, and had absolutely no energy for anything. After supplementing myself for a few months – i am feelin so so so much better! consider injecting b12 and don’t neglect your health.
Your B12 came today, I can’t wait to try it! I have chronic fatigue and been getting vitamin B12 shots at the chiropractor, but they charge a ridiculous fee. If I can get over the fear of injecting myself, your solution should make it very affordable. I’m still waiting for the syringes I ordered, but once I try it I’ll let you know how it works!
Hi I was wondering how long your vial of 40,000 Methylcobalamin will last me if I have a shot of 2,000 a week . I am paying 20 a shot at a local clinic every two weeks. This is all they will allow. I felt better right away although I do not believe they are administering this brand of b12. more likely it is the cyanacobalamin. I am sure your product is more cost effective. I know I have intestinal inflammation and after finding this out the extreme fatigue and irritability etc. all makes sense. if you could respond I would appreciate it .
Thank you ,Cindy
Hello, what if I do not want to dissolve all of the powder at once? I have pernicious anemia, but would prefer the vial to last longer than 1 month (preferably 1 1/2 – 2 months) because I am currently unemployed and want the B12 to maintain it’s potency. I’m sure over time, the B12 mixed with the saline would slowly lose it’s strength. While I understand, I should intake more B12 than I am planning, I know that some is better than none. Looking forward to your reply.
Thank you for your help!
Amy
Thank you so much for this service.
I’ve received the order, I’m glad it got through customs, I was worried about that.
I’ve managed to find a sterile saline solution and started my b12 supplementation.
I’m so relieved and grateful your service exists!
I already feel a lot more like myself.
I’ve basically come alive again.
Thank you so much!
Hi Regev,
I’m 26 and don’t suffer from vitamin B12 deficiency, but it would still be alright for me to take a 0.3 shot of B12 weekly or do you find that unnecessary?
My parents are 60, so considered elderly. What is their recommended dosage and frequency based on their age? I’m in the USA and doctors here are reluctant to prescribe these shots unless there is a severe deficiency.
What preservative do you use in the B12? I can not tolerate benzyl alcohol.
Hello ? I’m from the UK and have been on intramuscular Hydroxocobalamin for 3 years. However our Health Service have reduced the injections. Is this B12 product as effective and can it be administered intramuscular?
Shalom Regev!
I can’t wait to receive your B12 in the mail! I am counting the days. You mentioned in your FAQ section that it takes about a week and half for delivery to the United States, correct?
Thanks in advance and congratulations and very grateful that you are providing us with the best form of B-12, methylcobalabim.
Best regards,
Raul
What type of B12 (cyano, methyl, etc) do you recommend?
We recommend methylcobalamin, especially to those with pernicious anemia. PA patients cannot metabolise B12 as normal people can, so absolutely need the only native forms of B12 there are, that is methylcobalamin or adenosylcobalamin. Patients with pernicious anemia commonly have other comorbidities like impairment of the methylation cycle which leaves them with extremely high and harmful levels of homocysteine. Methylcobalamin offers the methyl donor to eliminate the homocysteine thus addressing both diseases (pernicious anemia and hyperhomocysteinemia) with one treatment. Whatever you choose, avoid cyano B12. Since cleaving cyanocobalamin leaves a cyanide molecule for the body to eliminate, we cannot support any research that purports this cheapest and non-native form of B12 for any use whatsoever. Given a choice, who on earth would choose to put a non-natural cyanide compound in their body? It beggars belief!
I have been taking these shots weekly for the last couple of years. I give them to myself in the middle of my thigh muscle with a 25 gauge, 1 inch 3ml needle. I use .75ml B12 and .75ml B Complex. I never have sore injection sites because I warm the syringe under my arm for 5 or more minutes to bring it to body temperature and I take my time injecting slowly so that the muscle can gradually take it in. Most of the time I barely feel it. Doctor”s offices do not have the time to do this. That’s why they hurt.
These shots have been a God send for me. I do not absorb B vitamins orally and they upset my stomach. I do not take any other medication. I have lots more energy with the injections and they help with my immunity. There was a shortage last year and I got run down and sick without them. I am a pharmacy technician and I’m on my feet all day working with kids half my age and around sick people constantly. I need them! I get a real even energy from these injections, no shaking like with caffeine, and it lasts all week. I might also add that I was scared to death of needles before this, but syringes are so sharp and fine now that it’s hard to believe that you barely feel it, when it’s done right.
Hello Regev,
I am a Registered Nurse licensed in the state of Florida, USA. Recently, a friend & business associate stated that she had purchased B 12 injections through a special that a weight loss facility was promoting. She is not overweight, just “going to school & working, with 2 children”. She states that it helped her so much and inquired if I could administer those injections. I am presently an immunization nurse and have treated patients in their home under a doctor’s order. Those cases were diagnosed with pernicious anemia.
My question is, do you know if legally I would be able to administer the injections without being charged with something crazy, like “practicing medicine without a license”. When I attempt to look at the legislative codes in this state, it is totally overwhelming to try to find an answer to this question.
If you can possibly help answer this question, I would be very grateful. Thanks for all the wonderful educating that you are doing!
Respectfully,
Patty
The good news is that in the state of Florida a person can have anyone give them a shot without repercussion. For instance if a diabetic needed a shot they can have anyone they elect give it to them without needing a license. You cannot charge for the injections or do this in a clinical setting, but when not done in a business environment you are fine. Not all states are like this but in Florida it is fine. Hope this helps. We teach people to do the injections all the time. The other good news is we have not had any issues with people having adverse outcomes from poor injection technique.
I have been taking b12 shots for the past 6 weeks. I have a low thyroid hashimoto’s disease and also permanent muscle and nerve damage. I have noticed a big change in my energy but most helpful was that has happened with my muscles and nerves. I find this really helpful and will continue getting the shots.
Can pregnant or breastfeeding moms take B12-shots? Is the recommended dose same during pregnancy?
Hi Sarah!
It’s perfectly safe to get B12 shots during pregnancy and while you’re breastfeeding. If you’re deficient and don’t get the shots, you could have serious complications in your pregnancy or your baby could B12 deficient too, causing him/her numerous dangerous problems. The recommended dose is higher in both pregnancy and breastfeeding. In addition, you could need more than the general population if you suffer from a disease or condition that causes problems in the absorption of B12.
Hello Regev,
Thank you for your excellent site and product.
I have megaloblastic anemia, and have been trying different sublingual tablets in different doses. The methyl-B12 helps, the Adenosyl-B12 also helps, but I think I have been just holding still at best. I have been to 3 doctors, NDs all, who won’t give B12 shots. My opinion of doctors is very low right now, since I feel they have given me a long and drawn out death sentence.
And then I found your site.
On most lists of symptoms, which are fairly short, I have almost 100% of them. On your much more extensive list I only have maybe 33% which is encouraging for me. I just wanted you to know how helpful that symptoms list has been.
I just ordered again, 2 bottles this time, because I am playing with the dose. I started at .22ml because I have migraines which are sometimes caused by taking too much B12 at once. On the other hand, I very likely have them partly due to not enough B12 in general! Anyway, I am now up to .3ml and I will hold it here for a week and note how I feel. Then I may increase it by .02ml if I feel the need.
I have a question, and I understand that you don’t know my health history, but you now know I have megaloblastic anemia which I think is stage 4 of a 4-stage B12 deficiency. I also, unsurprisingly, have chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia and chronic migraines – all diagnosed by two different MDs. Can I take another shot in the early afternoon, right after lunch? My morning shot, between 9-10am, seems to wear off but I don’t know how a second one might affect sleep. I understand that only a certain amount is absorbed as a function of time, but might a second shot, spaced 4 hours later, be helpful?
I did read your entire site, but I will need to read it again in order to remember what I need to know.
If you have any experience with this, please advise.
Thank you very much,
Michele
I read that if I have 1000pg/ml, only about 5mcg floats in my blood stream, and that if i eat a steak my B12 for instance shoots to about 1500pg/ml for a short while, or an injection of 1,200mcg i’d get a recorded level of 250,000pg/ml for a few minutes! Is that true? If so, if I inject a couple times a day, will i have those levels in my blood around the clock? is that optimal for widrepsread healing? Same source wrote: “This is the magic range in which the MeCbl/AdeCbl can directly penetrate by diffusion into the CSF in sufficient quantity to stimulate neurological healing, remyelinating the nerves. People with low CSF levels of cobalamin need high serum levels to get that active B12 into the brain and spinal cord for some healing to occur.” Is that correct? Can neuroligical damage be repaired? Can the nerves be re-myelinated? I always thought damage is permanent, and injections can only make it stop deteriorating, not recover.
I’ve never heard of this. No one really knows where their problem in B12 metabolism lies. Is it in the storage of B12, or the bioavailability of B12?
There is no “magic range”. In medical research and literature there are no studies yet which elucidate what you are after. Instead of blanket google or ‘vitamin sites’ it is best to research what you’re looking for by reading published studies via https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
Opinions do not matter. You need evidence. Right now researchers are still experimenting on rats so any evidence relating to human physiology will be a few years in the future unfortunately.
Methylcobalamin promotes the differentiation of Schwann cells and remyelination in lysophosphatidylcholine-induced demyelination of the rat sciatic nerve:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26300733
Human studies:
Vitamin B12-B6-folate treatment improves blood-brain barrier function in patients with hyperhomocysteinaemia and mild cognitive impairment:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12826740
Vitamin B12 in CSF: reduced CSF/serum B12 ratio in demented men:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1585799
For me, in addition to mega doses of methyl B12, I looked into Niagen, (NR – nicotinamide riboside), which converts into NMN, which converts into NAD which is needed in abundant levels to produce enough energy by the mitochondria for all cells to work properly, heal and repair. Energy issues have some degree of mitochondrial dysfunction due to not enough NAD. Nicotinamide is vit B3, but all forms, EXCEPT the Niagen (NR) and NMN pathway, are limited by the body in producing NAD. Only the NR-NMN pathway is unlimited in its ability to produce NAD.
I am heavily dependent in Methyl B12 AND Niagen both, and the Niagen was the next huge game changer for me.
Look up Dr Sinclair from Harvard and his research involving NMN with elderly 2 year old mice, and how, after a week of supplementation with MNM, these mice essentially had the cells of 6 month old mice and experienced dramatic reversals in aging, back in 2013. He actually has a pill now he plans to have on the shelf in 3 years, in clinical trials, to reverse aging. The FDA is closely watching, and has indicated to him they are considering labling aging a treatable disease as a result.
Niagen, the precursor of what he used, also dramatically increases NAD, and has been shown to do so in humans, as well as improve a host of conditions in recent research.
For me it has been absolutely invaluable in restoring to me my energy and life on top of my need for methyl b12.
Niagen is the patented form of NR, and only available from Chromadex under various independent labels. Any bottle should have both names on it somewhere, or I would consider it suspect (there are some out there). I have only been able to find it online. NMN is also available now, but is not controlled like Niagen is, so don’t know about quality control. I have found a sublingual form of NMN which works well, my only concern is it uses Xylitol.
I take methyl b12 until I can see it’s being excreted by my kidneys, urine turns yellow – usually 40 -80mg/day; and I take a baseline of 1000mg Niagen per day and up it from there as needed.
As I said before, Niagen has been a huge game changer for me. It’s absolutely given me my life back. Due to the way it has so dramatically helped me, it’s clear I have a severe mitochondrial dysfunction. If I stop taking it, my symptoms come back rapidly.
The only other thing that has significantly helped is going on a keto diet, as it’s easier for mitochondria to produce energy from ketones than it is from glucose (I also lost 40lbs in 5 months effortlessly).
I hope this info might help you as much as it has me.
Hi again
Just wanted to say that my wife is doing very well on the Methylcobalamin we bought from you. She’d been on hydroxocobalamin for some years now because of chronic fatigue but since the brand she was taking became unavailable and she had to switch to Neo B12 they were giving her migraines and somehow their effectiveness was also not as desired.
Thank you for providing this product. My wife has not had another migraine since she started on Methylcobalamin. We are re-ordering so that we’ll have spare which we’ll leave in powder form until we are ready to use it as you suggest.
Warm Regards,
Mark
Hi,
I recently purchased your b12 powder and tried to find saline solution that I could use, so I went to find some at Cvs etc. here in our place and I can’t actually find them, so my question is where do you usually get them, sorry this is my first time buying this b12 powder. Thanks in advance!
Could the B12 possibly help me if my blood levels seem normal?
B12 levels measure all forms of B12 in your system, not just the active forms, and there are something like 25-27 steps involved in converting the b12 you injest into the active forms, primarily methyl b12. That means your lab values are measuring all those analog (inactive) forms that are of no value in their inactive forms.
Additionally, the lab value range considered “normal” is way out of date and behind the times in the US. Where around 200 is accepted here as a low normal not needing intervention, other countries, like Japan and England, have updated their low normal values to be around 500-550, and consider anything less than this to be dangerous, even life threatening
The only way I know to easily assess one’s methyl b12 status is to measure one’s homocysteine levels, which, contrary again to US accepted normal high values, needs to be around 7 (rather than around 10-15). Methyl b12 is needed as a cofactor to change homocysteine back into methionine. If you have normal b12 values like I do, but high homocysteine like I do, this points to a deficiency or problem utilizing methyl b12. I need supplementation in large doses because of this.
Another way I discovered, but can’t find much supporting evidence for, is to pay attention to your body. Perpetual chapped lips are a sign of methyl b12 deficiency; missing moons on you fingernails, starting with your little finger first, moving to your thumb; verticle ridges on your fingernails starting with your thumbs moving to your little fingers. I was told these are signs of methyl b12 deficiency, which has born out to be true in my life.
When I take sufficient amounts of methyl b12, my chapped lips resolve, the moons come back, and after a long time, the ridges seem to lessen. If I consistently dont take enough, these all worsen. That’s in addition to all my other symptomolgy.
Can I still order B 12 (methylcobalamin) injections for B 12 deficiency from you directly?
I was helped immensely by them.
Two injections 10 days apart from a friend who was using it.
My doctor for some reason has a problem giving me an Rx. She says that the sublingual B 12 is shown to work just as well…..no so….not for me.
My blood serum levels show me to be on the low side of normal…..but in Japan they are treating people with much higher levels….with methylcobalamin…
I am 67 years old….MRIs, CT scans, and other blood work show everything to be normal…
Thanks you for your response
Sharon
Great article! Thankyou. I am experiencing neurological sx and can’t even get my doctor to consider a b12 deficiency. Just kept asking if I have a family history of autoimmune disease. I have two young children and since having the first have experienced numbness in my toes and fingers, as well as spasms in my hands, patchy red tongue, shortness of breath etc which is gradually getting worse and he completely disregards the possibility. I looked back at a blood test from 2014 and my blood serum level was 300, which I now know to be quite low, and may actually be even lower if tested properly. Extremely frustrating!
Shalom – I am grateful for finding your webpage it is a great resource of information and being able to buy the raw B12 here, is something I may well purchase, this month or next. After having issues with my menstrual cycle, with cycles every two weeks, I asked for hormone checks and full blood count, because in addition to that, I had memory loss, memory fog and short term, memory loss, which I thought might be oestrogen dominance, so I ordered some maca to help regulate. Also for months, I had pins and needles and terrible cramps in my calves, really severe, to cause limping the muscle was so sore, anyway I never put the two together until I got my results back from the doctor -to my surprise a number of issues were revealed, in my blood tests, which my g.p said I had nothing to worry about, revealed that I have macrocytosis. My most recent result was Mean Cell Haemoglobin (xe2pb) Above Range 32.2 pg [27.0-32.0] Above High Reference limited. My Doctor advised that was not the test they look, they look at the Mean Cell Volume (42A) 94.8 fL [ 76.0-98.0] which although high, was within range at 94.8 fL. So – I went away and looked up what the results all meant, then I looked up on the last bloods I had, and having being treated for autoimmune psoriasis this last year, I had a fare few to look back on, and even before commencing treatment for fumaric acid esters for psoriasis it clearly revealed MCV of 98 fL so I’ve had macrocytosis for sometime. So I will be taking up with the professionals, why they indicated that all my starting bloods were normal, before treating me for psoriasis which subsequently cause lymphopenia of 0.5.
So I’ve been anaemic for a long time, and apparently at least two years before symptoms, even show in bloods but the doctor just sent me away, even though, I printed out B12 deficiency, I thought he would, but never had not compared my other blood results at that appointment. Anyway all the advice online, indicated B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia due to the megablastic red blood cells, so informal advice said, if you have neurological symptoms take sublingual methylcobalin asap, and with the memory loss and the test result, I ordered some and this got rid of the memory loss, but I still get pins and needles, especially after dosing 5000iu am and 5000iu pm.
I also have really bad tinnitus, and wanted your advice on how to increase dosage upward to 60 mg effectively, as this was cited for treatment for tinnitus, although it may have been 60 mg ordinary B6 which would be no good if I have an un-diagnosed Intrinsic Factor antibodies, so I was really wondering having learned that sub-lingual tablets only allow absorption of 1-2 % how much absorption I would get from a 0.3 ml syringe per day of your supplied methycobalin? And do you have any information on this for the treatment of tinnitus?
If that wasn’t enough my blood also revealed that my TSH – Thyroid Stimulating Hormone was also high, with low hormonal output. Apparently people with megablastic anaemia often have hyperthyroid issues, my result was 4.01 mu/L [11.0 – 4.2] which was was point from being above range. Serum T4 was also tested as 16.8 [11.0 – 22.0]. So I set about to treat potential Pernicious anaemia with the B12 then I added methyl b6 and methyl folate and intend to tackle the other b vitamins along with zinc and natural kelp to try and get this system in order, which might well explain why my menstrual cycle is so messed up, no point in maca if the whole system is deficient.
So learning such a lot, in a short space of time and adding to this what I had already learned which followed the adverse treatment of my psoriasis is how autoimmune conditions need b vitamins and zinc for skin and muscles to function properly. I learned that high dose 0.3 grams of pure biotin is being used to treat m.s and has received good results for psoriasis treament, so I will be adding this to my b vitamin regime, once I get it all together.. not there yet. I have to treat the anaemia first, then I’ll extend to the b vitamins for thyroid, before undertaking high dose zinc treatment for psoriasis, because it is my thinking, that if I do have malabsorbtion issues of B12 then it is likely I may have malabsorbtion of zinc, which seems to operate with the same mechanism of parietal cells of the stomach, with the same rationale as sublingual, that if high doses, a percentage will get through. I wonder if injections would be better utilised? Will have to investigate?
I’m on a mission, and will sort my system, systemically and hopefully my psoriasis, far better than going on adulimab which could give my lymphocite cancer, and maybe relief from all my sorting out my body with simple vitamins and mineral and acknowledging I have an issue, and changing the way I look at me and my health. This really has been a wake up call for me and my personality as just like my body likes to attack me, I have some of those tendencies too, and I’m sick of it, I’ve had enough and their will be change… 🙂 There is probably loads of things, I have not factored in yet, such as adding pottasium or iron, but slowly slowly.. Niacin is another water soluble b vitamin, which like biotin, is supposed to beneficial at high doses, so will be including this too. I really just wanted to share this awakening with you and the many others that are finding this resource invaluable.
Toda
Chava
For more than 10 years (45ish-57yo F):
Consistent borderline low WBC & RBC, borderline high MCV & MCH.
To me (a layman), that indicated poor red blood cell production, and those that were produced were malformed and had short life spans.
Finally, a doctor tested for “Intrinsic Factor Anti-body”, which prevents B12 absorption. Result was positive. (Also, positive for MTHFR.) Diagnosis: Pernicious anemia/B12 deficiency.
Oral & even IM treatment with Cyano-B12 were ineffective, but IM treatment with your Methyl-B12 so far appears to be very effective. (Still some brain fogginess/memory issues.)
Please comment on blood factors, and IF anti-body (and MTHFR, if you would like). Also, need for methyl-folate over & above IM methyl-B12.
Thank you for all the information! I’m trying to save my life and my doctor knows less than I do now regarding B12 deficiency. I read: all your information and Comments, “Could It Be B12 . . .” book, and various published articles from Harvard, Mayo, and Cleveland clinics.
Female, 80, 234 lb (US), lung X-ray and standard bloodwork “normal.” Meds: inderal (arrhythmia), Valsartan & Amlodipine blood pressure pills, 4 potassium chloride football pills, Prilosec for hiatal hernia with reflux (many years), a statin, diuretic for swollen legs (wear stockings, losing weight helped).
SYMPTOMS: stiff knees hurt (only when bending); weak unless sitting; short of breath with slight nausea (walk or stand); oxygen 88 percent (finger tester) with any activity (95 percent sitting); poor balance of a 1-year-old (turned around quickly and fell); anxious for no reason (tap or swing foot-new symptom); numbness of toes (new symptom); low-grade temperature for six months (99-100.2 F–normal was 97.6 F). Need gluten-free (recent).
SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH ME!
I insisted on B12 test— result: 281, which doctor said was good (200-900 allegedly normal!); and he implied my complaints were all in my head from COVID and lockdown worries. His advice: Go outside, increase walking every day. I have no motivation to be ill; I am an independent investigator, with many kudos. I solve challenging cases for the fun and thrill of it (like a hobby, but I’m a pro). My mind is clear, but I temporarily forget names. I fear I will be destroyed soon—must act and care for almost-100 yr husband.
Doctor finally wrote me an Rx to self-inject 1 dose cyanocobalamin. I didn’t dare tell him the methyl type was better or that 281 was low, 500 is normal. He follows strict hospital and lab guidelines—no deviation allowed.
I have to save myself, so thankfully I read your information. ACTION—I :
* quit taking Prilosec and statin, cold turkey (thanks for info)
*sleep upright and eat 1/2 amount of meals to prevent any acid rising up
* failed to purchase the cyano B12 on purpose; I will order your meth B12
* take sublingual B12 1000 mcg in A.M., noon, and in P.M. (til injections)
* bought liverwurst to eat for breakfast and lunch (eat eggs, chicken often)
QUESTIONS:
(1) Should I request a follow-up B12 test three months after I begin?
(2) How can I test if I might be allergic to the methyl? Or, would a reaction be immediate after injection? (I can’t call Dr. because I’m not following his instructions and am probably on his “bad” list. I’m very nervous on my own.)
(3) What 0.3 ml injections Schedule would be appropriate? Duration, etc.
(4) Anything else I should do or know but don’t?
Thank you very much! You are much appreciated! It is frightening to act independently because my regular, board-certified doctor’s medical group is not up to date on B12 deficiency.
Thank you for the information. I was wondering if you believe saline to be the best thing to reconstitute the B 12 or if this other solution would be better?
Thank you for the information. I already self inject first cyano and now hydroxo for about five weeks. I hate it but I know how to do it. I have nerve damage due to long term undiagnosed pernicious anemia and am hoping methyl will repair some of it. Many thanks!
PS: my method is to use two needles. I draw the solution with a large needle, I buy them already attached to the syringe, then I let it sit covered for an hour to come to room temp. Just before injection I unscrew it and put a smaller gauge needle so the one I’m injecting with is pristine. That way I don’t have to worry if I ding it on the bottom of the vial.
Suggestion: add a few sentences about safe disposal of syringes. If you don’t have a sharps container any heavy duty plastic bottle with a screw top works well. Empty Laundry soap or juice bottles are good.
Can you please advise the size and gauge of needle? Just ordered your B12 😉
Hi!
I was experiencing neuropathy in my hands and feet, having chronic fatigue and skin and hair issues. I was afraid it was diabetes but after tests my doctor informed me I had no detectable vitamin b12 in my system. He explained that often pernicious anemia is caused by an autoimmune reaction with the patient’s immune system killing off the intrinsic factor. After four weeks of once a week injections things started getting much better! Unfortunately I lost my insurance and without the regular injections am back to how I was previous to them. Now thanks to you I have the option to get some injectable b12 so hopefully I will feel well again soon. Thanks!!!
Morning
My daughter was bed bound with ME for 6 months 5 years ago and it was discovered she was deficient in B12. She has been injecting herself ever since. Initially a few times a week gradually decreasing – she now injects when she feels she needs to based on her symptoms. 2 weeks ago she was very unwell with severe abdominal cramps and told by her GP to go to A&E where she admitted to hospital but released 24 hours later with suspected UTI (despite 3 out of 4 urine tests not showing nitrites!). She was given a course of antibiotics. She has since been seen by a gynaecologist and given the all clear there but her blood tests (taken after she had finished the antibiotics) showed up c reactive protein as 24 and her B12 greater than 2000. She has now been referred to a gastroenterologist as pain is still present. She has not injected herself with B12 for over 3 months. Should the levels be that high? What else could it indicate? I am so pleased I have found your website as it will make purchasing future injections much easier.
I have been doing B12 injections for about a year due to inability to absorb properly. They have been a miracle worker. I take 1ML every 3 weeks. This has increased my energy level and stopped some of the problems I was having from it being so low.
Thank you so much for the very much needed education. I care for my grandmother and it just seems like she’s being tossed from one Dr to another with no answers. I feel more concern and more in control of her care now.
Just recently started hormone replacement. Was told needed b12 because red blood cell problem. Told should have b12 injections every 2weeks. Have received 2 injections thus far. Must say..instant feel better! Have been following your information. Thank You for much info! Seems with age we deplete so much!
ok here’s my symptoms: im always tired, I go up the stairs and I feel like im gonna die…and severly out of breath. Im constipated every other week. I sleep all day when im off work when I really should be doing things more productive, im mostly grouchy and always upset about something. My feet are swollen when I wake up and it makes it difficult for me to walk. These problems started almost 2 years ago after I had my last child. Am I the posterkid for someone who needs B12 injections? oh and btw im only 30 and im in law enforcement……its dangerous for me to feel like this. HELP
My daughter at age 3 developed diabetes,than slow grwoth and thyroid diease, than addisions, (adrenal faliure) than celiac diease, thatn she was in bed for years, doctors said ,mental and she was jsut tired of being sick, deal with it, I look up more diease that she could have(God forbid we need another one, Anemia!!! I was so angry. The doctor said no to B12, I got it anywasy. She went from sleep 24 7 and no enery, a stroke and no energy to up and moving, doing so much better. I am so angry!. She is a differnt perosn!. She has her life back. The docotrs still say it is not the B12, Really!!!!??? Nuts, she takes 1ml every 3 days and is bright an beautifu again. Look up Polyglandular Syndrome; lack of B12 is quite common. She is 37 now and we needs help. Had they not waited so long to do this she would be healthier. Her stroke and memories problems are because of B12 deficiencies. What a shame. But we got it now!
I’m 49 and stuck on disability due to 6 low back surgeries. Just found out I will probably have to have yet another surgery. I’m bi-polar, chronic severe insomnia and in 2012 was diagnosed diabetic within 3 months of diabetes the neuropathy in my feet became so severe I could barely walk. I have 2 spinal stimulators implanted for low back and feet. My toes are numb and feel like I’ve been walking barefoot in the snow for miles. I finally saw a medical doctor that is also certified homeopathic. He ran blood tests and I am deficient in zinc, D3, Tested positive for genetic defect MTHFR and prescribed 2ml a week B12 shots, multi-vitamin, B complex vitamins as well as Tryptophan. I fear a lot of damage is already happened but I pray since my B12 from you just arrived today it will hopefully minimize any further damage.
Apparently here in the USA the corrupt pharmaceutical industry has made the pure B12 illegal and the only thing they offer is the synthetic B12 that your body must work harder to convert. I just stumbled on this site and the wealth of information you offer is a blessing. Thank you with all my heart for the educational information and offering the good vitamin B12.
Kelly: there is a lot of corruption in Big Pharma. But Methyl cobalamin is NOT illegal in USA. You just have to get it compounds for you in a ‘wet compounding’ pharmacy. ( usually privately owned, not corporate). And you will need a prescription. So throw in the cost of a Doc visit.
There are several in my state alone (Colorado), but only on that is ‘wet’ for injectibles. AND—it is 5 doses for TWICE the price of the 33 doses available from good folks here at PerniciousAnemia.org. Order it from them here. Even with the (dirt cheap ) saline cost added and your needles, you are still way ahead.
Blessings on your healing way.
I read your book with much interest after trying B12 jabs and their amazing result at relieving symptoms. However, my B12 is not at a low level (it was around 850). I am the 2nd patient that my GP has in this situation and the other has found the same result with a number of her family members. I am now trying to understand why the B12 is getting to the blood (as my blood test reading says so) but not being used by the body without the strong dose from the B12 jab. Have you done any research in this area or know someone I might be able to speak to? Many thanks
I have bought the bottle using your link. However, I have not opened it yet as I have another bottle that is not yet empty. This new vial looks like it does not have a rubber top seal that a syringe would penetrate. I’m concerned about how sanitary the mixed solution might be if open to the air each time an amount is drawn. Does the new bottle have a rubber seal? I guess I could open it now but I’m not yet ready to mix and use the solution. Can you tell me how this is typically done? Or am I worrying about nothing?
BTW…I’ve been injecting Methylcobalamin now for about 5 weeks and have had a dramatic improvement in what I thought was chronic fatigue and memory/focus issues. I’ve enjoyed your site and am sharing it with anyone that will listen. Thanks.
Very happy to hear, George 🙂
All sorts of closures for the glass vials were considered for antimicrobial protection. Rubber closures actually allow ingress of contamination from the hole through which the needle passes, which is too large to keep out bacterial contamination. There are studies reporting that. Here’s one. Ensuring the vial remains tightly closed is best for maintaining the methylcobalamin’s integrity.
Also, rubber closures are prone to sample contamination by rubber additives. Here’s another abstract for your information. This is more well-known now and another reason to avoid that type of closure although there are still plenty around since they tend to be cheaper.
Anyway, always clean your skin (alcohol swabs are great) and wait for it to dry before administrating. It is the staph aureus on our skin that causes the most problems.
Hello
Thanks for this site! I have been diagnosed with vit-B12 deficiency and start injections next week. 3injections in week one and 3 injections in week 2 to get it into my system, then it’s every couple of months probably for the rest of my life thereafter. My deficiency comes from having a gastric bypass and unfortunately no amount of supplements have enabled me to absorb the right amounts.
I have lost 6 stone in 6 months since my operation, so I hope I don’t become emaciated looking.
Thank you again for shedding more light onto this.
Charlotte. :o)
Hello, Regev, I would like to ask you a question regarding B12, hopefully you are able to receive it. Several years ago while my wife and I were going through a regimen of tests to determine whether or not she had “memory loss’ and at what level. I suspected that she was experiencing some. The tests proved that my suscpicions were correct at that time she was diagnosed with “MCI” it has since been elevated to “mild to moderate dementia”.
Anyway in the process it was determined that my B12 levels were dangerously low. As a result I started receiving the monthly shot from the VA system until about a few months ago when they said they were no longer available and advised me to get a oral supplement from my local pharmacist. Which I did. Well I have learned thanks to your article and others that the shots I was getting may have been cyanide based. I will be checking with the VA next week. For certain the supplements which the pharmacist gave me definetly are (I stopped taking them immediately, and will go see the pharmacist today).
Here is the real issue at hand, I have been having numerous issues begining with “frozen shoulders” back on October. With cortisone shots and physical therapy I got through that and was given the OK to resume normal activity on December 15. After bowling two games on December 15th I bowled two practise games before going back to league bowling on December 16th. Well I made it to the 1st ball of the seventh frame with no issues, but when I threw that next ball I heard an audible “POP” and felt a great deal of pain. I managed to finish that game once again with a considerable amount of pain. I went to urgent care shortly thereafter and was diagnosed with a “traumatic rupture of beceps tendon – Primary”.
On December 18 I was seen by an orthapedic surgeon and an appointment was scheduled to repair it on January 7th. Everything was fine until December 19th when I was shoveling the snow from our deck and tore the bicep tendon in the left arm. So now I have two torn tendons and will undergo surgery to have both repaired on January 7th. Now the real question is it possible that the B12 injections with the cyanide base could have built up over time and be the reason for the weakening of the tendons and that it has also damaged other parts of my body (tendons) etc. and that I should be taking something else to reduce further risk besides a non-cyanide base Vitamin B-12. Hopefully you can provide me with some sort of resolutions.
Sincerely,
Jerry
Hi Jerry, it’s unlikely for cyanide to cause your tendon issues. Without liver/kidney damage and with enough methyl groups, cyanide will not build up in your body. However, your B12 deficiency itself could be the cause for your frozen shoulder and muscular weakness, and combined with sudden physical activity could be the catalyst for a sudden traumatic tendon rupture.
This is a long post, but I hope it contains some useful information for others.
Something that is missing from the site as a cause of deficiency of methyl B12 are mutations in the MTR and MTRR genes. These are some of the methylating genes of the body and very important in methyl B12 production and utilization. Mutations in these genes can cause a deficiency of methyl B12 through two avenues – one impacts the availability of methyl groups to form methyl B12 and the other cause the body to use up methyl b12 too fast, so that the body is in a state of deficiency (even if blood serum levels of B12, includes inactive forms, are normal).
The simplest way to test for this genetic cause is to test one’s Homocysteine level. Homocysteine should be around 6.5-7.5 though often lab values for high normal will be around 10 or 11 or higher. Homocysteine is an amino acid your body makes from Methione (which has to be ingested being one of the essential amino acids our bodies need to get from our diet). The body converts Methionine into Homocysteine then back into Methionine and this continues in a circle. (This is an overly simplistic explanation but essentially correct). This is the heart of the methylating cycle of the body which is essential in a myriad of ways.
If the body cannot convert Homocysteine back into Methionine, or be broken down and excreted, then Homocysteine rises and causes all sorts of problems as it is highly inflammatory. This is one of the causes of cardiovascular disease for example through inflammation of the inner lining of the arteries leading to artherosclerosis. Elevated homocysteine also causes thickening of the blood and can help lead to blood clots.
The reason Homocysteine is a simple test is because methyl B12 and methyl folate are used together as “co-factors” to change homocysteine back into methione. If there is not enough methyl B12, then this conversion cannot take place effectively, and so homocysteine rises. To know whether or not methyl B12 is indeed the culprit vs methyl folate, one can simply start taking very large doses of methyl B12 and see if their homocysteine responds. But if one really wants to know, one needs to know their genetic mutations in the methylating cycle – MTHFR, MTR, MTRR genes for example. An easy way to do this is to use ’23 & Me’ which will provide one’s raw data, then put that data through a service such as Genetic Genie (which is free service created primarily to help with autistic children, though anyone can use it). Genetic Genie will generate a report showing you your mutations with explanations as to what each one means. MTHFR mutations will affect methyl folate, and a combination of MTR and MTRR mutations will deplete methyl B12.
When looking at genetic tests, this is important to keep in mind: just because you may have genetic mutations in this area, does not mean they are “expressing” – ie causing problems. But they could be; or if not now, could at a later time. This is why it is important to know one’s homocysteine level as it will be an indicator as to whether or not they are causing a problem.
I would recommend checking for methylating defects for anyone suspecting a problem with methyl B12, and especially if their homocysteine is elevated. Elevated homocysteine is a red flag.
I was excited to read about how easy it can be to get methyl B12 in a pre-injectable form that you can mix yourself. However, for me, the the solution offered here is way too cost prohibitive. This is because, due to such mutations in MTR and MTRR mutations, I have found I need 20,000 to 30,000 mcg of methyl B12 A DAY before it starts spilling over into my urine (at which point I am sure I have enough for a bit as now my body is excreting it), and to lower my homocysteine and keep it lowered.
I track this in 3 ways.
The first is through my homocysteine levels, but this can be done only as frequently as my doctor is willing to order the test.
The second way is by using the color of my urine on a daily basis as an indicator as to whether I have enough in my system. B vitamins turn our urine yellow. If it is clear, then there is room for more methyl B12. This means I can’t take any other B vitamins as then I won’t know which is turning my urine yellow, and other B vitamins are necessary too.
The third is my symptoms. What it takes to lower my homocysteine is not enough to manage my symptoms.
Injectable forms of methyl B12 have turned my urine red in the past, so I was excited to find an easy way to obtain this form. This would allow me to separate the methyl B12 from the rest of the B Vitamins when using color of urine. But, at nearly $100/40,000mcg, that would amount to close to $3,000/mth given the doses I have found I need to help reverse my symptoms (which were severe). 🙁
Another method of delivery not mentioned in this site is sublingual doses. These vary from liquid you hold in your mouth, to dissolvable tablets to “dots” you hold under your tongue. Sublingual delivery can rival injection as it bypasses your digestive system and enters your blood stream through the buccal mucosa.
I guess I will still need to still rely on the dots for now.
In regards to comments about CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and how to deal with it. I am speaking from personal experience: This is VERY IMPORTANT.
First the PACE Study, which many doctors rely on, is very flawed and no one should be, in my opinion, allowing their doctors to recommend graded physical exercise because they ‘need to get over their fear of activity.’ Please read up on the recent court case forcing the PACE researchers to release data they had refused to release and how they changed the criteria mid trial for recovery to make it easier to qualify people as “recovered.” When their hidden data was applied to the original criteria, there was no objective evidence for recovery in any of the subjects using the two pronged approach of psychological intervention and graded exercise.
But more importantly, read up on the research being done by Dr Sinclair at Harvard University. He was named one of Times Top 100 People of the Year in 2014 for THIS discovery: The basis of disease and aging is something called Mitochondrial Dysfunction. His discovery demonstrated that by increasing something called NAD+, he could reverse the cellular age of mice.
He found he could do this by using a special form of Vit B3. He took 2 year old mice, gave them this special form of B3 in their water, and a WEEK later checked their cellular age markers: They now had the cellular age markers of 6 month old mice. He has said their cells were indistinguishable from the younger mice. This is like an 80 year old having the cells of a 30 year old.
The form he used is very, very expensive, but the form immediately before it isn’t, and has been made available as a supplement – nicotinamide riboside, which can only be purchased as a supplement under the name of Niagen.
Now it was just in the news last month that Dr Sinclair is about to start clinical trials with a drug that has been formulated from the form he used: nicotinamide mononucleotide. This drug is expected to be available in 3 years to REVERSE AGING. It does so by raising levels of NAD+ so that the mitochondria can produce abundant levels of ATP – the energy our body relies on to work correctly. This abundance of ATP allows the Nucleus of the cells to REPAIR DNA DAMAGE. If you research this, you will find NASA wants this so that the DNA damage caused by cosmic radiation can be repaired in astronauts in space. This is real. It is really happening.
Even though it will be a few years yet before this drug is available, Niagen is available now. Niagen raises NAD+ as nictinamide riboside becomes nitotinamide mononucleotide which becomes NAD+ which then allows the mitochondria to produce abundant levels of ATP energy. I can personally attest to how quickly Niagen, nicatinomide riboside, increases cellular energy and can make a dramatic difference in someone suffering severe symptoms of CFS. I am not associated in any way with the pharmaceutical company that makes Niagen or any company that distributes it. I’m sharing this because, as someone who suffered the serious effects of CFS for 10 years, this has been a profound life-changing intervention for me, and has been hugely instrumental in giving me my life back. For me, taking Niagen for the first time was like being plugged into a nuclear power plant.
I take a variety of supplements, each for a particular reason and only after having researched them. The main supplements I take are methyl B12; Niagen; D3 with K2; and new supplement from Live Cell Research called CL-5 (which is geared to reducing cortisol, and immediately increased stamina, strength, and endurance, curbed all my food cravings and overeating, and allowed me to start losing weight); and a nitric oxide (NO) supplement – a special note on this last one: even though I had started losing weight with CL-5, as soon as I introduced the NO supplement, my weight started literally melting off.
Regarding Nitric Oxide – I would like to recommend a book: “The Nitric Oxide (NO) solution”. We need an abundance of NO and we get that through diet and exercise. It needs to be constantly replenished to prevent and reverse chronic disease. I know as soon as I started adding a NO supplement, weight began to just fall off. I can’t really comment on what was shared by another poster as to higher levels worsening symptoms in CFS patients, but I can share the NO supplement is what I added last, after addressing my CFS symptoms primarily through methyl B12 and Niagen and then CL-5. so the reason I may have benefited so much from the NO supplement is I was already on the road to recovery.
For people who really want to understand what B12 deficiencies can do, I recommend the book “Could it be B12? An Epidemic in Misdiagnoses”.
I hope that this information might help someone else.
My B12 level tested at 38!! I’m on once-a-month injections, but it’s still very low. I’m scared. Please help me. Doctor said he didn’t know how I was alive.
Why is your doctor only giving you injections once a month? Please read the book “Could it Be B12? An Epidemic in Misdiagnoses” – perhaps have your doctor read it too. I would think you need daily large doses of B12 to get your B12 up quickly. Sublingual dots are not affected by absorption problems in the intestines, as they are absorbed in the mouth, and will help supplement what the doctor is giving you; but monthly injections are too far apart imho. You can bring your B12 up quickly and ensure you have the active form – methyl cobalamin by taking sublingual (under the tongue) dots in that form (methyl B12). B12 is water soluble so it isn’t toxic, especially when taken in the methyl form – anything you don’t need will be eliminated in your urine.
If you’re still alive SUE YOUR DOCTOR! You can buy injectable B12 and do it yourself, or find a nurse friend or similar to inject you daily. DOCTORS ARE KILLING PEOPLE WITH THEIR IGNORANCE ABOUT B12 DEFICIENCY.
At a certain point, I believe we have to decide about whether or not to take charge of our own health. I know many people who go to their doctor and ask about B12 only to be shunned or at best given a once every 2-week shot of Cyanocobalamin. If you ask about Methylcobalamin it is likely your doc will not recommend it because it is not the treatment protocol he was taught or it is not a treatment specified by his or her local health authority. The articles on B12 by Regev Elya are excellent. Don’t assume that what your doctor says as 100% truth. You are not being lied to, it’s just that they may not be aware of all the facts. If you think you may be B12 deficient it is my personal opinion that you have nothing to lose by trying it. The website has links to where you can buy it. You may be doing yourself a huge favor by trying it. I did and it changed my life.
Four months ago, I was diagnosed with b12 deficiency and my iron was fine. Now my b12 is 579 and my iron is very low. I’m confused because I still have joint and muscle pains. Could this be because my iron is low or I’m suffering from something else? Depressed
579 is really low. In Japan you would be on daily injections. Among the many problems we’re fighting is that US levels are LOW and UK levels are only slightly higher – what are deemed to be be acceptable/normal health levels, I mean…
I have hypermobility syndrome (hypermobile Elhers-Danlos syndrome -hEDS), and hypthyroidism. the second of which is often implicated in B12 malabsorption and the first of which is often associated with digestive system problems, malabsorption of B12 being one – though not all that common. What hEDS IS know for, though, is chronic acute pain, but it was only a few years after diganosis with hEDS that I learnt that B12 deficiency can also cause severe muscle pain. I know very little about iron deficiency, so will not comment.
Hi! I’ve been getting B-12 injections for right at a year now from my doctor once a month, When I first started getting the shots I felt the extra boost of energy. But after a few months it slowly decreased. For 2 months now I have been taking B-12 1000mg oral pills with my monthly shots and I have no energy at all! I can barely get out the bed at times. I don’t understand what is going on. Any suggestions?
It’s likely that B12 is just one of many factors in your fatigue. Injections make a massive difference for me but I also suffered chronic acute tiredness and hypersomnelence for years until I was finally diagnosed with hypothyroidism earlier this year. I still get fatigue – and depression, anxiety and a few other issues without B12 shots, but the l-thyroxine (aritficial thyroid hormone) has revolutised my life. Now all I have to cope with is chronic acute pain, but that’s a different story, and at least now I have the energy to perform my specialist physio etc. But numerous dietary deficiency as well as wacko sounding stuff like over-exposure to strong electro magnatism can cause or contribute to fatigue, as well as countless illness and infections. Not wishing to scare you, but everything from lymes disease to MS should be considered. It’s scary, but this is reality not a comic book. I’ve had three careers and the chance of a family stolen by illness, so I’m not wanting to be a harbinging of doom, just practical realist. Hope it’s just something simple and easy to resolve though.
Hi
I have B12d due to PA. my query is really a general one, actually several.
1. When B12 is injected and goes into the blood stream, does it then go through the hepatic system and gets stored in the liver, whilst some stays in the blood for distribution to the cells? or does it all go to the liver and is then distributed from the liver?
2. subcut v IM. Whilst adipose tissue slows down the absorption of anything injected, can adipose tissue block absorption of B12, epecially where a person is clinically/morbidly obese?. I understand that it is thought by some people that it is better to inject subcut as it is then released slower and less B12 is wasted. However, having trained in midwifery, it is my thought that injecting IM is quicker and more effective and you require a smaller dose?
Regards
Ellen
B12 deficiency is not something to be taken lightly and having injections for the sake of it just in case is foolhardy because ignorance amongst physicians is dramatic and if you do have a serious deficiency, ignorance amongst clinicians can greatly decrease your quality of life and even lead to death if not correctly diagnosed and treated.
To be clear, I am NOT a medical doctor but I do have hypermobile Elhers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and through developing chronic fatigue whilst taking a psychologt degree five years ago I decided to write my thesis on living with unseen chronic conditions, which led to interviewing someone with the same condition who had previous suffered three years of chronic fatigue which is now managed – not cured – by regular B12 shots. One thing to make clear hear is that I’m talking about fatigue which is clincially chronic (lasting, or likely to last, six months of more) NOT chronic fatigue syndrome.
Through a further few years of serious research – and I mean clinical studies and serious academic work; not some blogger’s opinion or “Dr. Google” – I ascertained that around 75% of people with eHEDS suffer autonomic nervous system problems, one of which is malabsorption of a variety of nutrients, and in some of us this includes B12.
I also discovered that what are deemed normal B12 levels here in the UK are would be deemed borderline deficient in Japan – which led the world in research as of 2012-14 – and UK levels are higher than those deemed “normal” in the USA.
Most alarming is that the most common test for B12 – the first-line assay (blood tests) can return a false-positive as much as 35% of the time; this is not merely because the test is essentially useless but because many factors – some of which are mentioned above; such as folic acid levels – can interfere with test results. This means more involved tests are required to be certain – but here’s the real pig: most doctors will not consider more thorough (i.e. reliable tests) unless the first line tests indicate deficiency – even though those tests are essentially useless in most cases.
Fortunately, through the tireless efforts of orgnanisations such as the pernicious anaemia society the word about B12 is very slowly filtering through to physicians but not so happily, it’s likely to be another generation of two before things really change.
In terms of actual usage, when I first started receiving injections, when it kicked in after about four or five days, I went from feeling like I was made of lead to feeling like I was flying; I had not had so much energy in years. It took two more years of hard fighting to get regular monthly injections – because in the UK the few lucky enough to get them usually only get one a quarter – even though the latest research strongly indicates that people who are deficient should have injections every few days to begin with, and these should then be spaced incrementally until the person’s natural level of need is determined – for some this will be every few weeks whereas for others every three months actually is fine. For me it’s every five to six weeks; if I do not get injections this often I begin to flag to the point where, after about ten weeks I can hardly move – on top of which acute anxiety and depression also begin to return. I Know this because my GP wanted me to stop after eight months just to be sure, and I have had a repeat of this recently when I was in hospital for ten weeks following an accident and it took two weeks after discharge to get an injection; results: about 14 weeks without an injection put me back in hell and I have just had to order more injections online because my doctor will not give me one every few days so I can catch up again but now that I’m getting back to normal levels my energy is rocketing again and my anxiety and depression are rapidly fading.
Ultimately, as discussed above, B12 is vital for life but ignorance amongst doctors can cause fatalities – just look on youtube for treating B12 deficiency and watch the documentaries with real medical doctors (be very wary of nurititionists as anyone can call themselves such whereas dietician is a protected medical title – here in the UK at least).
I could go on for weeks because I’ve become something of an expert in this area of pure necessity because I was literally suicidal because of my fatigue and had my dissertation research not led me down the path it did I might still be in hell of actually dead – either at my own hand, because chronic fatigue is a living hell, of through irreversible neurological damage.
So I will say just three more things, two of which are touched on above: B12 is stored in the liver for when we need it and normal dietary intake does not need to be high, but if you can’t absorb it you do need injections; global rates of deficiency are rising because B12 is not actually produced by animals unless they are picking up mirconurtrients – such as cobalt- and microrganisms that a natural diet gives (i.e. cows should grace in fields not be fed pellets in a shed, etc etc); and thirdly, the type of B12 injections do matter, with cyanocobalamin being the worst of the lot – though better than nothing if it’s all you can get. For the record, there are very very few non-animal sources of natural dietary B12 (i..e not fortified cereals, breads etc) which include only a few types of fungi and some seaweeds, to the best of my knowledge. Which is why vegans and strict veggies need to be really smart about their diets.
Oh yeah, in addition to hEDS, I have also recently been diagnosed with hypothyoroidism, which causes chronic acute tiredness and hypsersomnelence (sleeping absurd amounts – up to 100 hours a week), but can also be a cause of B12 malabsorption, and I had this WITH chronic fatigue, so now I’m getting both thyroid meds and B12 shots I feel 30 again – I’m almost fifty, for the record.
Perhaps one more thing: read the guidelines from the British society for haemotology. And don’t go getting injections you don’t need, that’s just plain stupid.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bjh.12959/full
Hello Regev. I recently bought the methylcobalamin vial and was wondering if the vial is reusable. Is it safe to refill the vial with 40mg of pure methylcobalamin powder, then dissolve it the same way as the first time?
I would never re-use a vial as there are no guarantees it would remain sterile.
Hi, I just read your book which is very interesting- thank you. I have recently been diagnosed with b12 deficiency (level 95) but on the NHS they will only give me one injection every 3 months. As I have neurological symptoms, I want to self-inject to help myself! Before I saw your solution to buying b12, I ordered ampules from a German pharmacy online- of hydroxocoabalmin. In your opinion will they be ok for me to use and self-inject with? After I run out of them I may order from you instead! Thank you.
For most people methylcobalamin is preferable to hydroxycobalamin – it reduces high homocysteine levels, supplies you with a methyl donor, and doesn’t suppress nitric oxide. Still, hydroxycobalamin is much better than cyanocobalamin.
Thank you for your quick reply. I’m quite scared because my gp surgery seems to completely disregard the NICE guidelines. My gp said he did not consider 95 to be that low and he wasn’t convinced my memory loss and numbness was even related to b12.
Do you know of any b12 specialist doctors in the UK I could see privately? I’ve searched but can’t seem to find any. I’m based in Cardiff.
Your book has been a great help, it feels as though most doctors in the UK don’t know or care about b12, so it’s good to see that somebody does!
Penny, if you have neurological problems, you need 3-5 MG per injection, not MCG. I cured an eye problem using Methylcobalamin B12, which i had for 4-5 years. I injected 2 times per week.
Hello, Regev.
I just received my first order of methylcobalamin. However, there is a problem. The sealed vial is empty! Please see attached pictures.
Please Express deliver a replacement!
Thank you.
Look inside, there’s a tiny bit of red powder (that’s the methylcobalamin B12). The vial will become full once saline is added.
We looked again. Actually, upon looking very closely, there is something in it, but it is hard to see because there is so little of it. There is not even enough to cover the bottom of the vial. We were comparing it to the same-size vial we got from TeleWellnessMD. 50mg of powder fills half of the vial!? Why such a difference? Thanks.
Attached is a picture showing how little powder is in the 40 mg vial of B12 next to the 50 mg vial we received from EmpowerRx (TeleWellnessMD). Regev, please explain why the amounts seem so disparate. It is difficult to accept that the 40 mg vial from you is not a production error. Thank you.
This is not a production error. When you mix the 40mcg powder with 10ml saline, the entire vial will fill up. I’m guessing the vial from EmpowerEx is already in liquid form?
No, what I got from EmpowerRx also is powder, too. It requires 5 ml of bacteriostatic water to provide 50,000 mcg / 50mg. That gives her 2,500 mcg per 0.25 ml. Your vial says it contains 40 mg of powder. It requires 10 ml of saline, which the instructions say will provide 2 mg (2,000 mcg) per 0.25 ml. Regev, I have a degree in chemical engineering. Trust me and the pictures I provided. There is just a trace – not much more than residue – of powder in the vial I received from you.
Please see the attached photo to help you visualize what 40mg looks like compared to something you are familiar with. All vials are checked before they are sent, and no vial leaves the laboratory empty. I am sure you’re familiar with the size of Tylenol (compressed tablets) and other common medications. 40mg does not take up much space at all.
I admit you provide an interesting picture demonstrating different sizes, but “mg” / “mcg” are measures of weight, not volume. The most direct comparison I have is the picture of the 40mg of M-B12 from you, and 50mg of M-B12 I received from EmpowerRx.
It’s not even close! The M-B12 in your vial does not even cover the bottom of it. (In fact, the amount in your vial does not even look like as much as seen in your picture.) The M-B12 vial from EmpowerRx is half-full.
As a chemical engineer, I cannot conceive how this much of a difference is possible. Can you provide me a back-lighted picture of another of your vials containing 40mg of M-B12 for confirmation?
Mike, obviously ALL of these are weighed! Who on earth is talking about volume – but you in fact noted that the volume in the vial didn’t look like it was 40mg.
You are creating a storm in a teacup. I have been providing pharmaceutical grade Methylcobalamin for years. GMP accurately weighed on laboratory balances.
I have absolutely no idea why someone who calls themselves a chemical engineer cannot conceive of how small an amount 40mg is. Yes that’s 40000mcg.
If you’re not happy send the vial back for a refund.
Mike, after only 10 seconds reading the internet website for EmpoweRx’s methylcobalamin it is clear that you are comparing apples and oranges!
I assumed that a chemical engineer would know the difference between LYOPHILIZED methylcobalamin and 100% pure pharmaceutical grade methylcobalamin.
Since lyophilization is accomplished by dissolving the substance in a solute to begin with, and Empowerx do not tell what solute they use, (hopefully not benzene) then this obviously accounts for the difference in volume which you have so clearly noted.
I have included a screenshot to save you the hassle of having to click to go to Empowerx’ site:
Well, you got me. I was not familiar with lyophilization. I never came across it in a refinery environment, or plastics manufacturing. So, mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa!
Hi there,
Thank you for this article it’s very informative.
I have been very poorly since having spinal surgeries 12 years ago and have suffered intense pain all over my body,nerve pain, chronic fatigue, burning all over my body,(my feet feel as if they are being crushed) chest pain, heartburn, headaches, forgetfulness, depression, loss of smell and taste, I have been under the care of my GP, neurosurgeon and pain doctor for 15 years and have had all kind of tests done but they have all came back with nothing to explain my pain, two weeks ago I saw a different doctor who ordered different blood tests and it came back that my B12 was dangerously low (48) and my vitamin D is also very low, my doctor has ordered B12 injections (6 shots every other day) and then 3 monthly shots and also vitamin D supplements. I have already had 4 shots and have noticed a fast difference in my chronic fatigue and my foot pain, I have been referred to a cardiologist to check my heart. My question to you is how long could I have been deficient with all of the symptoms I have, do you think they are reversible and what permanent damage could it have caused me ? I have practically been house/bed bound for 12 years and made to feel like it was all in my head, even referred to a psychiatrist!! I would be forever grateful for any reply from you,
Kind Regards
Jules
Hello, currently I am undergoing treatment for b12 deficiency. I initially had anxiety attack, breathlessness and tingling, I went to my family dr and told him these symptoms: extreme fatigue, headache, insomnia, tingling and numbness in arm and feet, body pain specially arms and shoulders, dr said might be b12 is low, he gave 1 methylocobalamin injection 1000mcg. After few minutes my anxiety and breathlessness was gone, he gave 5 more injections 1000mcg alternate days. Today after taking all, I went to dr and asked for more injections, since I was not feeling much better, just anxiety and breathing problems were gone, then he said I don’t have b12 deficiency now, I might be having these due to low bp. My dr didn’t even recommended b12 test before injections, so I don’t even know what my level was before, do you think I should continue injections or it could be something else??? My hb is 12.4 , liver tests and tsh is fine, sugar is fine. He says b12 can’t be low bcoz otherwise your hb would also have been low
While receiving B12 shots I felt like my skin, hair, and body overall looked and felt healthier versus before B12 use. Shots temporarily cured my still unknown, less frequent, symptoms of dizziness/light headedness.
Hi Regev,
I bought your B12 but need the saline. Could you tell me where i can get it. I went to drug store and saw all kinds of solution for eyes. Is this what I need? Could u tell me a brand name to get. I do not see why it would be that different but just in case i thought i would check. Drug store pharmacist not helpful lol!
Thanks
I bought both syringes and saline off Amazon in the US, if that helps. Best wishes!
I’ve developed severe neurological symptoms just before my period and at the onset I developed a migraine much worse than when I was on Hydroxo. Did some research. Some are saying it could be the methylcoblamin cause of methylation. They suggested methylfolate supplements. What do you think? Can you help in any way? I’m in agony. Been like this for 2 days. Because of my ME I am very sensitive and a lot of meds and supplements don’t agree with me. To think that I was doing so well!
Methylation does not cause headaches.
Most folks with B12 deficiency issues have other medical issues as well. A common comorbidity is histamine intolerance. Histamine intolerance causes horrendous headaches/migraines.
Check out this book to better explain it:
What HIT me? Living with Histamine Intolerance: A guide to diagnosis and management of HIT
Most people suffering these types of headaches are helped greatly by this antihistamine which seems to work best in relation to histamine-induced headaches. It is available over the counter and it’s common to take in the evening.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diphenhydramine
Kind regards
Hi Regev,
I love your site. I’m a 45 year old male and I’m suffering from serious neuropathy from diving due to I was exposed to oil fumes from a job I was on in 2009. During the dive I didn’t felt anything even though I could smell the fumes from the oil but during my deco stop both my arms and hands lost total feeling and my torso started to go tight. After flushing my helmet with fresh air, I started regaining my sense of feeling on both arms, hands and my torso opened up. After that episode I never felt it again. I was a heavy drinker and smoker that time and after a year or so I started having episodes of neuropathy (numbness rather than pins and needles and sometimes all together) on parts of my face, sometimes my tongue and upper lip, one side of my head and ear. And sometimes numbness with some sort of pins and needles on my left neck, trapezius, shoulder and chest at the same time. This neuropathy feeling usually happens the day after drinking and worst when hung over. I stopped all vices for over five years and I was taking methylcobalamin tabs 500 mcg twice daily and the symptoms stopped after a year or so but with occasional symptoms for a couple of years after that. I started drinking and smoking again about 3 years ago but no symptoms. Last June I was on a diving job and after about 2 months diving with no symptoms we started a heavy job diving back to back non stop for 12 hours each shift (just for your info, one diver one dive only each day)I started feeling the numbness on parts of my face, one side of my head and ear (right side) including the numbness with pins and needles on my left neck, trapezius, shoulder and chest again but now with extreme itchiness on my whole chest, torso and love handles. This happens usually about 30 to 45 mins after I dive and it last for a few hours. At first I thought it was decompression sickness but it was not because the symptoms go away after a few hours and it only happens every time after I dive and not breathe pure oxygen for decompression. The only thing I can think of is that I was breathing fumed contaminated air that came from the main exhaust of the vessel. this happens when we charge our air cylinders and the intake of the air compressor is taking in contaminated fumes from the exhaust. I don’t drink much any more but if I do, I kinda drink a lot. I’m feeling the neuropathy again the day after drinking heavy and sometimes after I smoke a cigarette. Do you think your product can help me with my neuropathy? Besides quitting smoking and drinking less or completely stop drinking? If it can, what would be my daily dose and for how long? Hope to hear from you soon.
Thanks and best regards,
Anthony
I am a student Midwife and am researching Pernicious Anemia for a client. Her overall Hgb is 7.4 which will remove her option of a home birth with us so I was tasked with doing some. digging. She states the PA is a trait in her family and they take an OTC B complex supplement bit have never done anything else. She is currently 34 weeks gestation, would starting injections of B12 be helpful for her home birth status at this time or do they have a longer time frame for showing improvement?
Hello,
I just purchased two vials as I have MTHFR and I’m tired of having my doctor give me the shots and I need them daily which they don’t understand. I have significant brain fog so I just need assistance in buying the saline. This is something I can get from a US pharmacy without a litany of questions as to why I want it? If not, can I simply use bacteriostatic water? Also, I want to confirm that for each vial I bought I want 10 of saline per bottle to mix and this will give me how many injections? Can I profile the syringes and store in fridge in dark container? Thank you for your help. ~~Carolyn
Hi Regev – I’m excited to get this order. I have pernicious anemia and I’m suffering from a lot of ‘brain fog’ that’s really impacting my job. I only found out that I have pernicious anemia one year ago at the age of 41. I spoke with Becky Stella about her experience after reading her testimonial on your site. She was so helpful and gave me the confidence to place an order for an overseas, over-the-counter product. I am hopeful it will help me as much as it does her…. the B12 shots I get from my doctor just aren’t doing it and I know there must be a better solution. Thank you for making this available!
Best,
Amanda
I was recently tested and my ferritin serum level is at a 3. My hemoglobin is an 8.8 and B12 is at a 288pg/ml my Dr. Said there were “no significant abnormalities” but I feel SO TIRED all the time, chest pains occasionally, headaches everyday and numbness and tingling in my hands and legs/feet. Should I be concerned!? Should I change doctors?
Hi there! I have had a multitude of symptoms for years and just last year was diagnosed with Pernicious Anemia. According to the neurologist I was sent to for my migraines, my level was at 30. I was then referred to a hematologist whom had me on one injection per day for 7 days, then once every two weeks for six months. After six months my numbers were around 942 and he now has me on one injections per month. I am supposed to have a recheck next month. To this day I still have trouble speaking correctly about 40% or more of the time (including pronouncing things weirdly or with an unknown accent), still forgetting what things are called, exhausted all the time, urinary incontinence, and many other symptoms. Even my hair (I’m 35) is still turning grey enough to a point of turning white. Once it turns solid white, it falls out. My question is this: how bad is it when the level is as low as 30 and why would I still be having these issues if my levels have drastically improved? Thank you in advance!
Thank you so much for this information. When you say start treatment right away do you think 1000 mg injection once a week is enough if your levels are as low as 180? Also wondering if I’ve had two months of shakes, tremors, vision issues, tingling and numbness, is it likely that it will be reversible and go back to normal since it’s only been a few months or is there still a chance it’s permanently damaged the nerves? Thank you so so much for this site, it is very helpful in a frustrating situation. I went to eight different specialists until myself doing further reading on B12 and requested a test, Is it normal for Western medicine doctors to not look into vitamin deficiencies?
My 44 yr old daughter has had symptoms of fatigue, pain in legs, numbness in arms, memory issues and a weight gain of almost 60 lbs over the past year and a half. She finally found out on Dec 27 2016 it was her B-12 level (258) injections were started with 2 months of weekly and then 1 monthly. Her level had hardly increased so did 2 more months of weekly. She also wakes up occasionally vomiting. Her current level is 288. Am very worried she has pernicious anemia. Diagnosed in a couple generations of family. She was sent to a Neurologist because they thought she might have MS but that was negative. Am worried they are not being aggressive enough and her neurological symptoms wil remain. Should we see another kind of specialist or just stay with this treatment. They have not given her a diagnosis other then critical level B-12. Thank you
My B12 has been about 180 for the last time years. I am 60 now and always tired and foggy. Will B12 injections help me?
My neurologist just said my B12 level is a 7 very low he said I need to take the liquid 2 drops a week or I’ll be in a nursing home. What does he mean by that and how bad is 7 what could happen?
Well, let’s put it this way. If mid-level B12 is supposed to be between 200 & 900…and your’s is a 7! What do you think. Have no clue what my Mom’s B12 levels were but she ended up schizophrenic. Hearing voices, running off in the middle of the night down the road. Was not pretty. It was a B12 deficiency, plain and simple. She had to take shots every two weeks the rest of her life but she was fine. Runs in my family. I have taken b12 for years. Its a simple test, simple diagnosis and simple remedy.
Hi , I have had 3 babies all one after the other and was very sick and depressed through all 3 pregnancies but the worst was the 3rd pregnancy. When my baby was 3 days old I was given an antidepressant to take. I took that for 2 years. 5 weeks ago I slowly started to come off the antidepressant as I believed taking it was making me feel worse. After suffering from the most horrendous withdrawal symptoms from coming off it I went to a private GP begging for help. The first thing she done was take bloods to check my b12 levels.
The following day (last week) I went back for the results. The doctor said she was shocked that I was functioning at all because my levels were so low at 100. The doctor told me she’d only ever seen one other person with such low levels (19) and that lady was pregnant. I am now having B12 injections every second day for 2 weeks along with an oral b12 supplement each day. The GP thinks that my depression could have been from B12 deficiency (I have a few other symptoms from the deficiency also) but because my levels were never checked before now, we can only wait to see how things change as my levels go up. I feel so let down that a doctor knowing all my symptoms, would never have thought to check my b12 levels but instead put me on antidepressants.
Hello my serum vitamin b12 lrvels are 324 pg/ml and folate is 5/3ng/ml.
I have strong family history of PA and am suffering alot of symptoms mainly brain fig and eye disturbances that i thought were occular migranes. Can i request a therapeutic trial of injections on these levels?
About 5 years ago I visited a hormone clinic and received a MIC injection. I was told that it was just a bunch of B vitamins and that is was all natural.
Immediately after the shot I felt like I would vomit and I felt uncomfortably hot and dizzy. I thought I was going to pass out. I had to lay down for a few minutes until it passed. The nurse then asked me if I was allergic to Sulfa drugs. I guess there was more in that injection than just B vitamins. Since then I am very careful about what I put in my body. I would like to know if I can have a list of ingredients in your B12 injection before making a decision on whether or not to purchase.
Thank you very much.
There’s one ingredient: 100% pure methylcobalamin. No preservatives whatsoever. When you mix it, please use sterile 0.9% saline and not bacteriostatic water (which may contain benzyl alcohol).
Hi, I just read your book which is very interesting- thank you. I have recently been diagnosed with b12 deficiency (level 95) but on the NHS they will only give me one injection every 3 months. As I have neurological symptoms, I want to self-inject to help myself! THANKS. Your book has been a great help, it feels as though most doctors in the UK don’t know or care about b12, so it’s good to see that somebody does.
I discovered that what are deemed normal B12 levels here in the UK are would be deemed borderline deficient in Japan – which led the world in research as of 2012-14 – and UK levels are higher than those deemed “normal” in the USA. Most alarming is that the most common test for B12 – the first-line assay (blood tests) can return a false-positive as much as 35% of the time; this is not merely because the test is essentially useless but because many factors – some of which are mentioned here; such as folic acid levels – can interfere with test results. This means more involved tests are required to be certain – but here’s the real pig: most doctors will not consider more thorough (i.e. reliable tests) unless the first line tests indicate deficiency – even though those tests are essentially useless in most cases. In terms of actual usage, when I first started receiving injections, when it kicked in after about four or five days, I went from feeling like I was made of lead to feeling like I was flying; I had not had so much energy in years. Now that I’m getting back to normal levels my energy is rocketing again and my anxiety and depression are rapidly fading. DOCTORS ARE KILLING PEOPLE WITH THEIR IGNORANCE ABOUT B12 DEFICIENCY!
I was diagnosed with PA and atrophic gastritis 11 years ago. Was very unwell for over a year before, plagued with urinary infections, brain fog, abdominal pain etc and when finally tested my level was 75. I was immediately put on a loading dose over 2 weeks and then top IM B12 injections every 12 weeks thereafter, later reduced to 10 weekly. My most recent bloods showed a healthy level of 400. My GP now says I can no longer have the injections and must supplement by taking oral tables of 1000 mg daily, in the hope that I may absorb 1% of this dose. Having been so ill before being diagnosed, I am terrified of the consequences of this, particularly as I am a carer for my disabled elderly husband who is also being refused IM injections. I understand that every precaution has to be taken in the present circumstances of Covid 19, but I do feel that our lives and health are being put at risk by this decision. I am in the UK
Thank for your work to educate us. I am hopeful all you’ve enlightened me about may mean a diagnosis at last . I have ordered a kit from you 10 days back, I am in the USA, Colorado. Can your team advise me please, for when I might expect my package so I can plan? I *am* able to get a USA compounding pharmacy to make me methylcobalamin… it is just twice your price for only 5 shots!!! Thank you, and blessings on you and your team. I appreciate your courage. Warmly, Loraine.
Hello Regev, thank you for your wonder service you provide to give us disadvantaged humans the chance to be alive and exist. You are to be commended. Be rest assured the most high God will bless you for your good work. Sincerely, Ese Robles.
Wow, alot of info to digest! I was diagnosed with PA 40 years ago when I was 31. Have had Cyanocobalamine injections 1xmonth all this time. I am now 71. Have been getting pins & needles in my legs, have megaloastic anemia, on the low side of red blood cell count & white cell count as well. I have tried for years to get a Dr to RX for Methylcobalamine, but they all say there is no injectable Methyl. And then I found you 🙂 Thank you so much.
My 6 year old is on the spectrum. His biggest problem is speech. I have heard so often that parents have had success with their children with speech by doing the methyl one in shot forms (super tiny needle) in the butt at night while they sleep. Have you seen studies to support this?
I have MTHFR mutation that causes me not to be able to convert B12 in my body and was advised to take methylB12. Can you give me more information on this? Thank you.
Dear Karen,
Regev Elya’s site is excellent for B12 info and his supplement sounds very good. There are 2 other sites I like and use for info as well: Dr. Ben Lynch’s site: http://mthfr.net/ and the Phoenix rising site: https://phoenixrising.me/
Dr Lynch also has the gene mutations, and the gigantic phoenix rising site deals with the genetic mutations, chronic fatigue, and everything involving B12 and folate issues.
Methylcobalamin is not sufficient as a singular source of vitamin B12. Hydroxocobalamin and cyanocobalamin can both be split by the body into methylcobalamin and adenosylcobalamin. Methylcobalamin on the other hand is not converted into adenosylcobalamin. Deficiency of adenosylcobalamin disturbs carbohydrate, fat and amino-acid metabolism, and hence interferes with the formation of myelin. Thereby it is important to treat vitamin B12 deficiency with hydroxocobalamin or cyanocobalamin or a combination of adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin.
(from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methylcobalamin)
You should read this : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25117994
It’s hard to glean much from just the abstract – I would need to read the whole article. Anyway, actually methylcobalamin that is ingested (either from foods or supplements) isn’t used directly as a cofactor. It is first converted by MMACHC (a gene providing instructions for metabolizing B12) into cob(II)alamin, which is then further converted into methyl&adenosylcobalamin for use as cofactors. That is, methyl B12 is first neutralized and then regenerated as either of the usable forms.
As a proof see this paper. The author studied 3 vegans with elevated uMMA levels and treated them with methylcobalamin (1,000mcg tablets, 2 times/day for 3 weeks). Two of the subjects’ uMMA levels normalized while the third one had his levels only slightly elevated (4.1mcg/mg creatinine while normal is <4.0). Elevated MMA levels indicate a deficiency in adenosylcobalamin (again, it acts as a cofactor for the conversion of methylmalonyl-coenzyme A to succinylcholine coenzyme A), so this indicates that the methylcobalamin was successfully converted to adenosylcobalamin for use in the MMA pathway.
And don't forget that many of the readers here have pernicious anemia. This is much more fatal then mere B12 deficiency, and those people often need as few conversion steps as possible so they absolutely need the native forms. They often have other co-morbidities like impairment of the methylation cycle, and that leaves them with extremely dangerous high levels of homocysteine. Methylcobalamin offers a methyl donor and is the most effective way of eliminating the homocysteine, thus addressing both diseases - PA & Hyperhomocysteinemia -- in one treatment.
Also, I can't support any research that purports the use of cyano B12. Who on earth would choose to put a non-natural cyanide compound in their body and deplete valuable methyl groups to detoxify it? It beggars belief!
In summary, one abstract on B12 deficiency does not overturn the massive weight of evidence that supports supplementation with bio-identical, native methylcobalamin, especially for pernicious anemia patients.
Don’t blindly believe everything you read. From the same Wikipedia:
“Except in rare cases, the human body has the ability to convert any form of B12 to an active form, by means of enzymatically removing certain prosthetic chemical groups from the cobalt atom, and replacing them with others.”
P.S Conversely, adenosylcobalamin can also be converted to methylcobalamin. The two forms simply interconvert.
INCREDIBLE info. Thank you so much. So MMACHC is exclusively responsible for everything B12-metabolism related?
My pleasure 🙂
Not exactly. The MMACHC contains information on how to process different forms of B12 to be converted to either Adenosyl or Methyl B12, but it interacts with MMADHC to actually transport that processed B12 to wherever they are needed: the mitochondria in the case of AdeCbl, and the cytoplasm (cell fluid) in the case of MeCbl. Then its finally converted and is ready to use.
“Who on earth would choose to put a non-natural cyanide compound in their body and deplete valuable methyl groups to detoxify it”
Apparently in the US, UCLA, Blue Cross and every other insurance company as its cheaper!
Thank you for all your information!
The way I understand it, nitrous oxide can render all forms of B12 inactive in the body, right? Would appreciate if you can explain. Thanks.
Yes, absolutely.
The cobalt in active B12 exists in a +1 state, cob(I)alamin. But before that state, it starts in inactive +3 and +2 oxidative states and is reduced to +1 in the body. Nitrous oxide is dangerous because it inactivates and oxidizes the +1 cobalamins back to their former +2 and +3 forms.
Dear Mr. Elya,
I would like to thank you for your comprehensive discourse on vitamin B12. I would like to add my story by saying that I myself have discovered this pseudo-accidentally. I’ve been craving for meat for the past few days and my mental capacity has gradually been becoming foggier and more forgetful over a year. I have suffered the same symptoms as immense tiredness as you have described, within the last few weeks despite getting at least 9 hours of sleep and it has impacted my academic performance drastically. I was lucky to have made the connection as I found out I was taking synthetic B12 from a “complete-food” powder (Huel, similar to Soylent), which of course contained B12 with the cyano-group attached and hypothesized that being the cause as I’ve been mostly vegan by consuming Huel as my main meal three times a day almost every day with the very occasional meat or cheese.
Furthermore, your academic articles make a strong argument. However, could this discourse be used to persuade food companies such as Huel, Soylent, Saturo, and so forth as well as supplement companies to change their ingredients? Additionally, would you say that such a case is occurring with other vitamins and their synthetic “equivalents”? I very well may forgo this powdered form of existence due to its scientifically unsound basis due to its new nature.
Indeed, I remember being much sharper and more spirited before devoting into semi-veganism. In a way, I feel that I have performed a great sin unto myself. I regret it deeply, and I will make it certain to spread the word. Once again, thank you for confirming my fears and for your devout research.
Kind Regards,
Ahmad Al-Kawari
I assume cyano B12 isn’t safe for pregnancy because of the cyanide, but what about the native forms (adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin)? Are they safe enough? And if so, could you point a maximal safe dose? Ive read that more than 6,000mcg is never prescribed, is it because of safety?
Vitamin B12 has an excellent tolerability and absolutely no known toxic overdose levels. It is water soluble, so anything you don’t need is excreted through your urine. There is no reason to believe methyl or adenosyl B12 wouldn’t be safe during pregnancy. 6,000mcg is the cap at some places because there is no advantage in administrating more. That’s A LOT of B12 in one dose, and no doubt much of it goes to waste. The key with B12 is little and often, you’ll get more benefit from frequent, much smaller amounts (dosages as low a few hundred mcg a day, every day) than infrequent, large doses (say 6,000mcg every week).
What is a safe amount of B12 for someone with kidney disease? Can too much B12 cause problems for someone with very mild CKD?
I’m a little confused with regard to the relationship between nitric oxide and B-12 efficacy. I am just about to start supplementing with a liquid Methyl product but I also have daily enhanced levels of nitric oxide (NO) from taking a l-citrulline/glutathione mixture to assist in workouts and recovery and also helps with blood pressure. The l-citrulline converts to l-arginine and then to NO. Will the NO interfere with the effectiveness of the B-12 or visa versa? Fantastic article by the way
It appears that 33%+ of the (elderly) population has a genetic mutation that prevents conversion from cyanocobalamin and folate to the methylcobalamin and methylfolate. I was tested for the MTHFR gene mutation, the results were positive for one copy of the C677T and A1298C mutation. As a result this may cause macrocytic anemia as tested in my regular lab works (a MCV larger than 100) and a low RBC count. What made me request the MTHFR gene mutation test is the fact that my plasma B12, folate and B6 levels (no or low absorption) have been largely elevated for more than 10 years along with elevated levels of my MCV and lowered levels of my RBC.
You may want to include this on the website.
Thank you, Pieter Verhoef
I have the MTHFR mutation (that causes me not to be able to convert B12 in my body) and was advised to take methyl B12!
Very informative website! Question – So, I uploaded my 23andMe raw data to NutraHacker and their recommendation, based on heterozygous mutation of the COMT genes, was to avoid methyl groups and substitute instead with hydrocobalamin. Thoughts? Also, is your product supplied in a powder form that could be applied topically with similar efficacy?
Big thx,
Chad
Hi, I have found your website very informative.
I am still confused with few aspects of the sickness and the doctor is very evasive.
The blood results show
IFAB positive and
Antiparietal Cell Antibody : REACTIVE TITRE 320 (screen 1:20) ,
B12 Total 207 pmol/L (162-811) ,
Active B12 27pmol/L (>35) ,
S.Fol 35.2 pmol/L (8.4-55)
I was just diagnosed with PA and I had an endoscopy which confirmed the diagnostic.
Microscopic Description of endoscopy:
The specimen consists of fragments of gastricbody-type mucosa with mild to moderate infiltrate of plasma cells and lymphocytes within the lamina propia. No active inflammation is present. SEVERE atrophy of specialized glands is also noted in association with patchy intestinal metaplasia, but there is no evidence of epithelial dysplasia or malignancy. No helicobacter-like organism are identified.
I receive B12 injections one per week for the first month or so. I have just received the first one.
I am concerned of the specialized glands. Are they going to start working at any point?
And the scariest part is the metaplasia. How is this going to be healed? If the immune deficiency continues to attach the lining of my stomach, will metaplasia get worse and ending up becoming cancerous? Will the diet help to fix the metaplasia or having B12 injections will heal it?
Any suggestions apart of B12 injections and diet? I am aware that I will be on B12 injections for the rest of my life (I am 49) but I want to know if all PA has metaplasia, can people live normal life with metaplasia without being healed, etc.
Thank you