High B12 - Autism Spectrum Message Board

RoboDad · 06-02-2005, 10:58 AM

Hoping someone else has seen this... My daugters who is 5 and diagnosed with Autism just had a blood and urine spectrum done. She is on a Ceisine and Gluten free diet so all results looking for sensitivity to egg, wheat etc are unmeasurable. Her B12 came back at 1450 which is twice the high of 220-730. She is on a multi vitamen but no high doses of B. All other reading are normal except Cystathionine which measured 12H. Anyone have any ideas? Hospital had no idea why this is happening and from the Dr.s I have spoken too, they can't even agree if an elevated B12 is good or bad! Anyone seen this before?

drasdma · 06-02-2005, 04:56 PM

Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is important to good health. It helps maintain healthy nerve cells and red blood cells, and is also needed to make DNA, the genetic material in all cells (1-4). Vitamin B12 is bound to the protein in food. Hydrochloric acid in the stomach releases B12 from protein during digestion. Once released, B12 combines with a substance called intrinsic factor (IF) before it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Although there are no studies of the effects of high b12 I am of the belief that too much of a good thing is not good. I would seek ways of lowering the b12 immediately if this were my child. A detoxification of the body by a professional doctor. Let me know how things go and what you decided to do. Best Wishes.

RoboDad · 06-03-2005, 07:33 AM

First, allow me to thank you for your reply. Since posting my original question I have been in contact with 3 nutricianalists and 2 gastro specialists. The nutricianalists didn't have a guess as to what was going on and suggested removing B12 supplements if we were giving them. We are, but just as part of a daily vitamen. When the gastro doctors looked at the blood results, they said it was either in error or that "we have seen this before but the B12 count can vary drastically day to day". They also said, nothing to worry about as there have been no findings that elevated B12 has any negative affects long term on the human body. Another thing to consider is that my child eats a very select group of foods and removing proteins from her diet would eliminate 1/2 of what she will eat. Basically she will eat only peanut butter & jelly sandwiches and any meat on rice or noodles. She will also eat speghetti. All gluten and cesein free. Thats it! And believe me, we have tried the "she will eat when she is hungry" approach... that didn't work! Introducing new foods into her diet has proven impossible. Even with her current food, it the color is slightly different, she will not eat. So, we are still left with the question, is the elevated B12 most likely due to a combination of the carbs + meat + peanut butter diet? I will say that she has improved dramatically since going gluten and cesein free and gained 24 months in her assesment this school year. I have also read about studies done on some children who inject B12 or injest very large quantities of B12 and some of the results have been acceptional. Comments?

drasdma · 06-03-2005, 02:09 PM

Sounds like you are into the homeopathic methods to improve your child's chances of success. If that is your thing, have you heard of a chiropractor removing all the allergies you are avoiding from the CFGF diet? It is bazzar from the description my friend gave me but she swears by it for her child, and by the way she is an OT. Now she can eat all different sorts of foods with no ill effects.

RoboDad · 06-06-2005, 07:09 AM

No, I must say that I have never heard of that! With my daughter, it is not just the alergies or symptoms, it is also her inability to try new foods. The CFGF diet was easy for her because the foods she would eat could easily be purchased or made CFGF. The transition was easy. As for the chiropractor suggestion, I think that I would need the services more than my daugter! Thanks for listening and your suggestions.....