Boy with High B12
Question
I have a 12 year old male patient with high B12 levels, any thoughts?
Answer
To get B12 in our diets, most doctors think we have to consume meat, yet it is actually our good bacteria (probiotics) that make B12 as it converts B vitamins for us to absorb.
My clinical insight would be that the patient is young, so he has probably taken antibiotics in the recent past, his diet is probably high glycemic and thus has created what is called Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth (SBBO). Too many bacteria, making too much B12, which is readily absorbent.
I have seen similar cases like this before and this is one of the topics that I lectured on during the Functional Approaches to Gastroenterology CD in 2010.
So have the patient take a SBBO test where they consume a form of sugar, usually D-xylose and then breath out into these lab bags for analysis.
The gut bacteria need to be restored. Widest variety of strains of bacteria, not just lacto and bifido, water, exercise, and you may want to consider a natural antibiotic (food / herbs) to kill bad bacteria and yeast.
Also D/C the B12 supplements that you are giving.
Patrick
Dr. Patrick Garrett
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American Board of Functional Medicine, Diplomate Functional Medicine / Nutrition
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American Board of Functional Medicine, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Posted by Functional Medicine at 9/2/2010 12:50 PM 
Categories: Doctor On Call
Tags: vitamins supplements high b12
Categories: Doctor On Call
Tags: vitamins supplements high b12
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