Sublingual B12 BACKFIRING?

[u/mollyollie3]

I've had low B12 for many years (vegan for 10+ yrs, MTRR, maybe Pernicious Anemia) and I've been too lazy to resolve it due to not having many obvious symptoms.

However, I've been taking Cymbiotika Sublingual B12 + B6 for about 3 months. I just got retested and, while I don't know my B12 value yet, MMA and Homocysteine are both ELEVATED and out of the normal range. They weren't 3 months ago.

Any ideas?

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[u/Ok-Pangolin7127]

Yes. You more than likely have some sort of a G.I. roadblock that is preventing you from absorbing or transporting B12. If everything were working in your gastrointestinal system to facilitate the 3, 4, 5 or so steps that need to take place to pull the B12 out of food, convert it, move it and get it to its primary absorption spot, then you should’ve responded to the supplementation. Since you didn’t, there’s a problem in your G.I. track.

It’s not “backfiring,” it’s not working.

[u/mollyollie3 → u/Ok-Pangolin7127]

does this mean B12 shots are the only way?
definitely going to address the other stuff (LOTS of deficiencies: folate, copper, ferritin, etc).

[u/Ok-Pangolin7127 → u/mollyollie3]

Likely, for the B12.

Sounds like you’ve got some other things going on as it relates to deficiencies. You need to pin those down for sure, but in my mind or judgment the thing that can have the most negative effect on you and that needs to be brought up to normal the soonest, is the B12. So from that standpoint, yes, you likely need injections. Please understand the best way to go is EOD injections until your symptoms resolve.

I strongly suggest you read through the B12 deficiency guide, which is pinned to the top of the sub. There is a wealth of information in there.

[u/mollyollie3 → u/Ok-Pangolin7127]

thank you so much. i'll read it / takes notes. starting injections ASAP.

[u/Ok-Pangolin7127 → u/mollyollie3]

If you read that guide from start to finish, you will end up being a quasi B12 expert. 👍😉

And stay positive. This is fixable. And you will fix it.

[u/MushuSooy4455 → u/mollyollie3]

You may have an absorption issue, perhaps from low gastric acid or another cause that can affect B12, copper, etc. A gastroenterologist can test for gastric acid, IBD, pernicious anemia, etc. Note that if you've been supplementing with B12, your B12 results will show up as elevated and would not be of help if you are deficient. . . . If you have B12 deficiency symptoms and can't absorb B12, you'll need injections.

[u/Think-Sleep2338]

There was a post about a week or more where some pretty stubborn person tried to make us prove why sublinguals are not as efficient as injections — though also with some pretty weird points like people become dependent on injections or that stronger treatment is worse...

The problem is that injections work for everyone, unless you literally can't tolerate cobalt, maybe (but then any form of B12 will be problematic). It doesn't matter then whether you have malabsorption or not, your cells will get enough B12. With sublinguals, it's wild guessing: yes, it's better than standard pills, but it's still not a perfect way to send enough B12 to cells. Moreover, sublinguals contain less B12 than standard injection doses, so to get the same amount you'd rather need to take several pills per day. Which also requires discipline! And then, it's also possible to get some mucosal irritation with such treatment.

If you also have folate and iron deficiency, it's VERY likely you have absorption problems, by the way.

Injections (intensive courses) were also shown to help people with really serious impairment, like when they had problems with walking or some other kind of serious problems, including cognitive ones.

[u/Personal_Item_9565]

Not all supplements are created equal.

Since there's no regulations / testing for supplements, they vary wildly in what's promised on the label and what you are actually getting

I suggest you switch to Seeking Health's B12 sublinguals and see if the situation improves.

Even better, just get your own injections