Vitamin B12 testing

[bubbles1066]

Hi everyone, I've been vegan for about 2 years now and have been eating my fortified foods and taking my supplements so have no reasons to believe that I may be B12 deficient.

I'm a regular blood donor and have always passed the Hb test before giving blood with excellent blood Hb levels.

As a lack of B12 also causes anaemia, does anyone know if passing this test means that my vitamin B12 levels are also fine? I'm just curious :hi: Thanks

[IamJen]

It's unlikely that your B12 stores are very poor, if you're passing the Hemoglobin test, but it's possible. If it worries you, I'd ask the doctor for a stick/test. It takes 10 seconds and could set your mind at ease. If you're feeling fine though, you should be fine without it as well. The effects of B12 deficiency have a gradual onset, iirc. It's not like you wake up one day and your nervous system is shot to hell.

[sybaritik]

Hb levels and b12 levels are completely unrelated in the way you are talking about here....if Hb levels are high it does not mean that your b12 will be good too.

In fact, a high iron level can actually mask the anemia associated with low b12.

It's a good idea for all veg*ns to get a yearly blood test to determine what is happening with their folate and b12 levels because sometimes you can assume you know what's going on, but quite often you can be wrong :)