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Does Vitamin B12 Deficiency Result In Leg Cramps, Infertility And Learning Disabilities?
Question: I got my b12 results and it is 183. I am 46 years old and had it tested about 25 years ago when I was vegetarian and it was low then, I assumed after eating more meat it would be better. I suffer from leg cramps, learning disabilities, bad balance and infertitliy. Could this all really be due to low b12? what course of injections should I start? I live in a develoiong country and have no access to first world care, my doc here suggested a course of 12 injections over 2 week period
Brief Answer:
Vitamin B 12
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Some of your symptoms could be attributable to low Vitamin B12 which have a wide range of symptoms. I don't think the leg cramps are a common symptom of B12 deficiency though.
You are not of the elderly age range where we see B12 drop, so I think it would be a good idea to consider why your B12 is low. Reasons for B12 deficiency (beyond inadequate dietary intake) are use of acid reducing drugs for the stomach (proton pump inhibitors), lack of intrinsic factor, which decreases your body's ability to absorb B12, weight reduction surgery or other gastric surgery, hyperthyroidism or autoimmune disorders, taking the diabetes drug metformin, Celiac disease (and other things that affect the small intestines - including parasites).
If you doctor can, it would be a good idea to get an anti-intrinsic factor antibody test to see if you truly have pernicious anemia as the cause of your low B12.
There are various protocols for treatment, but for patients without blatant neurological symptoms, 1000 grams of B12 can be given IM, 3 times a week for 2 weeks.
I'm including an article about B12 causes and management here. It is a bit technical; if there are things in it that you would like to discuss or for me to explain, please just let me know.
http://www.bcsyyyyyyyys.com/documents/BCSH_Cyyyy_and_Folate_Guiyyyyyy_(2).dyyy.pdf
I hope this helps.
Vitamin B 12
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Some of your symptoms could be attributable to low Vitamin B12 which have a wide range of symptoms. I don't think the leg cramps are a common symptom of B12 deficiency though.
You are not of the elderly age range where we see B12 drop, so I think it would be a good idea to consider why your B12 is low. Reasons for B12 deficiency (beyond inadequate dietary intake) are use of acid reducing drugs for the stomach (proton pump inhibitors), lack of intrinsic factor, which decreases your body's ability to absorb B12, weight reduction surgery or other gastric surgery, hyperthyroidism or autoimmune disorders, taking the diabetes drug metformin, Celiac disease (and other things that affect the small intestines - including parasites).
If you doctor can, it would be a good idea to get an anti-intrinsic factor antibody test to see if you truly have pernicious anemia as the cause of your low B12.
There are various protocols for treatment, but for patients without blatant neurological symptoms, 1000 grams of B12 can be given IM, 3 times a week for 2 weeks.
I'm including an article about B12 causes and management here. It is a bit technical; if there are things in it that you would like to discuss or for me to explain, please just let me know.
http://www.bcsyyyyyyyys.com/documents/BCSH_Cyyyy_and_Folate_Guiyyyyyy_(2).dyyy.pdf
I hope this helps.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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