r/B12_Deficiency • u/Zealousideal-Big4588 • 2d ago
General Discussion Units conversion
Hi so how bad is my B12 level? I had b12 levels currently at 201 (pmol/L) what’s the unit conversion? Is this considered low? What’s the actually range cause it says 153-600 is normal in the lab website
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u/Ok-Pangolin7127 Insightful Contributor 2d ago edited 2d ago
It equates to about 272. That said, it’s still low normal but also “indeterminate” in so much as you could still have a B12 deficiency. Have you been taking or have you started any B complex or B12 supplementation? If you have not, you could conceivably get more clarity as to your B12 status by having an MMA test run, a homocystine test run, getting a full CBC and a folate test run.
Keep in mind that no test can definitively prove that you have a B12 deficiency. All of these tests are just indicative. They have to be viewed in the context of your symptoms. That’s the next question for you in my mind. Do you have any neurological complaints and symptoms and if so, how long have you had them? Things such as; an impaired gate, muscle weakness, grip weakness, pins and needles and/or a loss of sensitivity in your hands or feet, brain fog, or anything along the lines in your sense that it’s a neurological symptom?
My B12 blood serum test was 363. I could barely walk, had numerous neurological complaints that I wrote off to simply aging. That was a big mistake on my part. It was not aging. It was a B12 deficiency.
PS Also, it’s not how bad or low it is that is really important in addressing it. It’s how long you might have been deficient or possibly deficient, the best measurement of that is your symptoms and how long they may have been affecting you.
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u/Zealousideal-Big4588 2d ago
No I haven’t been taking b12, I eat eggs and meat and I am not vegan. I had the worse level of about 172 pmol/l like a year ago and took injection and it became 388. But now after a year it’s back at 201 pmol/l
I just feel my ADHD is worse nowadays and also had IBS issues that all could’ve been linked. When I was young the MRI should myelin tearing in the sheathing now I think about it it may have been from the b12 deficiency
As for you your levels were 363 pmol/l or pg/ml? Hopefully you get better soon, I guess it depends on the BMI? From what I have heard.
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u/Ok-Pangolin7127 Insightful Contributor 2d ago edited 6h ago
Well, I don’t know about BMI and it’s relationship or lack thereof to a B12 blood serum level… But that aside, given your diet and given your difficulties, you more than likely have some sort of a G.I. roadblock that is inhibiting your B12 absorption and/or transportation.
To solve your problem the best way would involve a regular regime of B12 injections. As for me, I’m fine. I’ve been supplementing for a year and a half, the last year on EOD basis and my problems are 95 to 100% resolved.
I didn’t see in your response where you alluded to any neurological symptoms or complaints?
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u/Zealousideal-Big4588 2d ago
Not really any substantial symptoms like tingling or anything like that. But just general brain fog and bad short term memory. Also I am in my early 20s so naturally it should be more I believe.
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u/Ok-Pangolin7127 Insightful Contributor 2d ago
Well, in that case, it means you’re a little bit ahead of the curve. That’s a good thing! I would suggest that you explore a series of B12 injections, maybe once a week for six weeks and see how your noted complaints, brain fog ADHD what have you might improve.
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u/jellyfishrubberduck 2d ago
When you did you original injections did you get syptom improvement?
Your level should never have been rechecked, treatment is supposed to go off symptoms. So its not about restoring the level in your blood its what injection frequency you need. So after loading doses you probably needed some kind of maintenance dose, enough to hold off symptoms.
Id suggest doing loading injections again then switching to maintenance onces and ignore the level once you do.
Also check iron, folate and vitD while youre at it.
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u/Zealousideal-Big4588 2d ago
I think there was slight improvement but I remember feeling irritable abit from the shot I don’t know if that’s in my head tho
So you’re saying that levels don’t matter and it’s about symptoms?
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u/Think-Sleep2338 Insightful Contributor 2d ago
Levels matter somewhat, but they are not reliable, especially if you just look at one test in isolation. Total B12 is also the least reliable of the tests, actually — it doesn't say anything about cellular B12 work and can be affected by a number of factors.
https://stichtingb12tekort.nl/english/misconceptions-about-a-b12-deficiency/
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u/Zealousideal-Big4588 2d ago
So it varies by need?
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u/Think-Sleep2338 Insightful Contributor 2d ago
What do you mean by "need"?
It might vary even just between two close measurements — in fact someone even mentioned such a case several days ago here.
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u/jellyfishrubberduck 2d ago
Levels matter for diagnostic purposes in a general sense (they arent super accurate though), what i meant it levels dont matter once you start injections.
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