I had my first B12 test in 2001, but don't know the exact detail, only so much to say that the King's College Researcher phoned to say it was at an okay level- after 5 year's of veganism, including about 2 in those last years of rawfoodism (90%+)
I believe since then my general count has been low, and possibly lowering, in a delicate balance, with all too limited financial ability to control my own nutritional experimentation; with the wealth of benefits that raw food can bring, and additional superfoods.
During the last 6 months my larder has been scarce of food and my toenails began to show signs of stress, and trauma - whether one tries to understand the stress in my life or not, clearly food has it's place in my overall satisfaction. One toe nail, flaked away in layers, and another has shown signs of only soft and crumbling growth.
Recently I broke my wrist, the first break I have ever experienced, and chose to have my blood tested. Here the results show low readings for B12 and Calcium. With B12, 106pg/mL (197-866 the recommended range) and with Plasma level Ca, at 2.09 mmol/L (2.15-2.55) and my guess could be that the break is requiring more Ca, from my blood to heal the bone.
Consistent with symptoms of dissiness on standing up occasionally - i believe this is the most important and written in ink, so beware, small number of grey hair, although i am 42 today it should not be an excuse really, and yes some poor circulation at times. I believe that despite a health mostly raw vegan diet (and absolutely no supplements, for all the time I have been vegan,) there has been a steady depletion of B12, which might not have been as pronounced, as if I had the resources to test myself against more luxury superfoods etc.
I felt willing enough to take the challenge of trying on a low budget, and afterall supplements are not cheap either. I now take 1x1000ug tabs daily, (rec. methylcobalamin, Not cyanocobalamin) of 'B12' and immediately noticed improvements in proprioception, maybe less poor circulation, possible greater mental clarity- although a possible placebo effect in the last month with the latter... and will repeat the blood test at the end of this month.
Questions were raised as to whether my intake of B12 is absorbed, something that could prevent many people from getting the benefits of supplements, or the right food, for which the latter I tend to believe will never produce a definitive answer for all, since I follow the blood group diet, and believe we thrive on different foods to each other.
When I get the results in June I'll put them here, and the GP has offered an absorbtion test as well, I strongly suggest Vegans and Veggies to request of their GP surgery B12 testing, and not feel embarrassed about it. This way we ourselves might produce the evidence needed without the continued prejudices, and serve the aims of medecine with a display of human, non-animal testing. E.g. With other diseases and lifestyles, if you have sex with many partners let's say, you should have STD tests, right and get them no questions asked, so what, just take up these responsibilities then, and show the public at large how to take charge of your life.
As it stands, it appears most important to establish how well my body can absorb B12 by the standards of the current scientific testing. More in a month.
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