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Has your brain been feeling ‘foggy’? Do you feel fatigued a lot for no particular reason? These symptoms, along with feeling weak and having pins and needles, are signs that you may have a B12 vitamin deficiency.
Want to be sure? We don’t blame you! Here’s some information about how to test your B12 levels and why it’s so important.
Low levels of vitamin B12 can be difficult to spot until it’s too late and you are dangerously lacking, and a surprisingly high percentage of people are deficient.
In the United Kingdom 6% of adults younger than 60 years have a vitamin B12 deficiency and that figure rises close to 20% of those older than 60.
Vitamin B12 also tends to drop in pregnancy, but usually return to normal levels after giving birth.1
Your body needs vitamin B12 for the following functions:2,3
When your body is low in vitamin B12, it can show in a variety of ways, including:4
There are several factors that can contribute to a vitamin B12 deficiency, including:5
If you went to your GP with a suspected low vitamin B12 level, a B12 deficiency, or pernicious anaemia (a condition where you are unable to absorb vitamin B12 from the foods you eat) one of the first things they would do is book you in for a blood test.6
These vitamin B12 deficiency tests check:
But nowadays, you don’t necessarily have to go straight to the doctor. In fact, you can do B12 home tests first – if that’s what you feel more comfortable with.
A blood test is essential, as this is the only way to check your vitamin B12 levels. However, thanks to modern technology, going to the GP isn’t your only option if you want to test your vitamin B12 levels as we’ve just mentioned, thanks to test-at-home kits. We’ll explain the benefits of both options below.
So, why you would want to test your vitamin B12 levels at home instead of the usual route? Well, first of all, you get to choose what sort of blood test you’re getting.
The NHS has stated that there is a bit of a flaw with the current way B12 is tested. The most widely used blood test only measures the total amount of vitamin B12 in your blood.
This means that it tests both the ‘active’ (can be used by your body) and the ‘inactive’ levels of vitamin B12 (can’t be used by your body).7
One problem with lumping active and inactive vitamin B12 levels into the same test result is that you may be showing ‘normal’ B12 levels, even if most of it is inactive and your body can’t use it.
When you can choose your own test, you choose a test that measures only the active B12 levels, so you get a better picture of your actual vitamin B12 status.
However, it is important to keep in mind that these sorts of tests are no substitute for seeing your doctor, especially if you are experiencing symptoms, as these companies will not be able to diagnose, consult or provide any treatment.
But, if you just want to know for peace of mind or if you should be upping the vitamin B12 in your life, they can provide very useful.
It depends on the brand, but generally a home test for B12 will work a little like this:
If you go with a reputable home blood test brand that sends out clear instructions, good kit, uses accredited laboratories to test your blood samples, and details/communicates your results clearly, then yes, they should work.
Obviously, you have to take ownership of following instructions correctly and completing ‘your part’ at home, as this is key!
As we touched on above, the most important things you need to consider when choosing an at-home testing kit for vitamin B12 include:
Here are a few tips on how to get the best results from any home blood test kit:8
Another great option is our Vitamin B12 Testing Kit, processed by London Medical Laboratories.
Key benefits:
If you do discover you have a vitamin B12 deficiency or low amounts in your body, you should always seek the advice of your GP, who can help you get to the root of the cause and advise treatment.
Vitamin B12 supplements are widely available if you worry that your diet or other lifestyle factors may eventually lead to depleted vitamin B12 levels.
Most multivitamins contain vitamin B12 too, and it doesn’t hurt to pre-empt any potential vitamin B12 issues by supplementing, especially if you don’t eat many B12-rich foods.
You can also easily increase the B12 in your body by eating some or all of the following:
Click here for more advice on vitamin B12, what it does, and how to keep your levels up.
Last updated: 10 January 2023
MBA, MBSS, BSc in Medical Sciences with Management
Dr Anojan's main passion is to improve access to health and wellness – either through technology or by making information more accessible and easier to understand.
As well as his clinical background which was mostly in General and Orthopaedic Surgery, he has had roles in a wide range of industries: start up experience in health tech, ecommerce and a plant based restaurant, as well as an ops role in FMCG.