Vitamin B 12 deficiency question and IBD

[Lady Organic]

Hi all,

my GI just called me because I have tested B12 deficient. I was also in the past, but I proposed to increase my meat intake to resolve this issue. It seemed to work for a while, but now the vitamin is too low again. So I will start the injections next week.

my question is: Can a crohn's patient be in remission and sufffer from a B12 deficiency? Or it is mostly when disease is active that this problem occur?

Does B12 defiency also occur in ulcerative colitis patients?

Thank you!

 

[lgpcarter]

Yes, you can be in remission and still be deficient. It is absorbed in TI and if there is scarring there, that can impede absorption.

Not sure about UC, think it not likely.

 

[Lady Organic]

thx, my Terminal ileum has rarely been sick (only once that we know )and I am not supposed to have any scarring there.
My GI didnt mention anything about my TI when he called me...No investigation or anything for the TI.

So B12 deficiency occur in sick or damaged Ilieum only?

 

[Lady Organic]

I read in this article it can occur in UC as well, but less often:
'''Prevalence and Risk Factors for Functional Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Patients with Crohn's Disease.''
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26296064

 

[Bunty]

I have crohns colitis and am B12 deficient. I have the injection every three months but find my energy slipping again about three weeks or so prior to the next injection. This time I've bought an over the counter B vitamin complex..one a day..which seems to have done the trick. I'll take it until I have the next injection in two weeks.
It may be coincidence but to be honest it doesn't matter to me as long as I feel better, which I do
Bunty x

 

[shamrock15]

I do 1 mg sublingual b12 pretty much daily and it seems to do the trick. I haven't gone deficient while using it. The needle once a month also does well for me but I don't much enjoy jabbing myself. Stay on top of it though, you don't want to play around too much with anemia. That really isn't fun, especially when it goes chronic.