Vitamin B12 deficiency and celiac disease

[the sensible celiac]

When I was diagnosed with celiac disease it was in part because I had been found to have pernicious anemia, which is a deficiency of vitamin B12.

As I understand it, people with celiac disease often suffer from pernicious anemia and/or iron deficiency anemia.

So this is just a reminder to you all to buy and take B12 supplements if you have any history of pernicious anemia. I hear that people with this problem should take B12 supplements for the rest of their lives.

In my case, it is even more important that I take B12 because I eat a strictly vegan GF diet, and meat is the primary dietary source of B12.

I buy Nature Made brand B12 because the package states that it is gluten free.

Steve

[JUDI42MIL]

Steve how much do you take??? I could never find exactly how much I should be taking. I take 1500 mcg? a day now

[the sensible celiac]

Fortunately B12 is one of the vitamins that is not toxic if you take too much. My doctor told me that if you take more than you need your body just excretes it when you pee.

The ones I'm taking are 1000 mcg.  I think that the daily requirement is something on the order of 50 mcg. But for people who have had damage to their digestive system, like us, doctors do recommend a large dose because it is likely that it won't all be metabolized.

The Gastroenterologist that diagnosed me with celiac disease said that celiacs tend to have the worst damage in the same area of the gut where B12 is usually metabolized, so he suggested I get Vitamin B12 injections once a month.  I did this for a while, but then I moved from the SF Bay area to Palm Springs, and the doctors here do not believe I need the injections.

I'm sure there is nothing wrong with taking 1500 mcg of B12 per day, it is certainly enough.

Steve

[CarolM]

Steve,

If I understand you correctly, we should continue to take B12 supplements even after we have healed?  I, too, had iron-defiency anemia and low levels of B12.  I don't take any supplements at the current time, but I guess I need to rethink that.

CarolM

[the sensible celiac]

Since B12 does no harm if you take a lot of it, I think it s best to do just that.

I read an article on the subject of B12 supplements for people with digestive disorders. There was a link to it on the News page here.

Steve

[the sensible celiac]

Here is the link to the article I referred to about vitamin B12, it's from a source in Yemen, but our celiac news search on the News page found it:

http://www.yobserver.com/news_5640.php

Steve

[elizabeth]

hi i ise to have b12 injections but my last blood tes t was fine,should i take b12 suppluments?from elizabeth

[the sensible celiac]

hi i ise to have b12 injections but my last blood tes t was fine,should i take b12 suppluments?from elizabeth

Yes, I think that anyone who has a personal history of B-12 deficiency should take B-12 for the rest of their life.  It won't hurt you, but a deficiency of B-12 can do lots of harm.

[CarolM]

My doctor told me to take B-6 and B-12, both in oral absorbtion formula.  Even though I've been GF for five years, he was concerned about absorbtion.  Fortunately, they're easy to find.

[elizabeth]

Thankyou to everyone who replied to me,it really helped.i will be buying some supplements right away,from elizabeth