B-12 Conversation with ChatGpt
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
How B12 Absorption Works:
-
Your body uses a protein called intrinsic factor (IF), made in the stomach, to absorb B12 from food.
-
IF-mediated absorption is limited to about 1.5–2 mcg per meal, regardless of how much B12 is in the food.
-
A small additional amount (1–2%) can be passively absorbed by diffusion, but it's minor unless you're taking huge doses.
So in your case:
-
If you're getting 7 mcg from 1 tablespoon of your homemade cheese topping, your body will absorb:
-
~1.5–2 mcg via intrinsic factor
-
~0.1–0.2 mcg passively (1–2% of the rest)
-
So total absorbed = about 2 mcg to maybe 2.2 mcg per tablespoon
-
-
If you eat 2 tablespoons (14 mcg), you may absorb ~2.5–3 mcg
Why This Is Safe:
-
Even if you eat 2 tablespoons most days, you’re absorbing about the recommended daily amount (2.4 mcg), maybe a little more.
-
It’s not enough to cause your levels to spike, especially without supplements or animal products.
-
You're getting a steady, natural food-based intake, which is the healthiest way to manage B12.
In summary:
-
Yes, your body limits how much B12 it absorbs from food.
-
7–14 mcg/day from your nutritional yeast cheese is safe and effective for maintaining levels.
-
Your current intake is likely to gently lower your elevated B12 while still meeting your needs on a vegan diet.
You said:
ChatGPT said:
If your B12 level is still elevated in 6 months, despite being fully vegan and getting your B12 only from modest amounts of nutritional yeast (7–14 mcg/day), it could suggest something else is going on besides dietary intake.
Here’s what that might mean:
Most Likely Possibilities:
-
You still have a lot of B12 stored from before:
-
B12 is stored in the liver, and your body can hang on to it for years.
-
If your previous intake (from cottage cheese, eggs, etc.) was generous, it may take a while for levels to normalize.
-
So a high result could just reflect a slow decline, which is not concerning by itself.
-
-
Lab variation or hydration effect:
-
You drink a lot of water before labs (which is healthy), but very high fluid intake can slightly concentrate or dilute blood components, depending on your body's state at the time.
-
Repeating the test over time helps clarify the trend.
-
Less Common, But Worth Knowing:
If your B12 remains elevated long-term with no supplements or food sources, a doctor might consider:
-
Liver function issues (e.g., liver cells releasing stored B12)
-
Kidney dysfunction (rare, but elevated B12 can happen if clearance is impaired)
-
Myeloproliferative disorders (rare blood conditions that increase B12-binding proteins)
-
High levels of haptocorrin, a transport protein that binds B12 and raises serum levels without affecting tissue B12
But — these are rare, and you'd typically have other symptoms or abnormal labs alongside elevated B12 if any of those were happening.
Bottom Line:
If you're:
-
Eating no animal products
-
Not taking supplements
-
Only using a food-based source like nutritional yeast
Then an elevated result in 6 months is likely just a slow normalization — not a sign of disease.
Still, if it’s persistently elevated and creeping higher, you could ask your doctor to test:
-
Active B12 (holo-transcobalamin)
-
Methylmalonic acid (MMA)
-
Homocysteine
These show whether your body is using B12 properly — and help rule out rare transport or storage issues.
Let me know if you'd like help drafting a message to your doctor if your lab stays elevated.
You said:
ChatGPT said:
Yes — based on your situation, it does make sense to stop eating cottage cheese and eggs if your goal is to prevent your B12 from staying elevated. Here's why:
Why Nutritional Yeast Alone Is Enough for You:
-
You’re getting 7–14 mcg of B12 per day from your homemade nutritional yeast cheese — which is plenty.
-
That amount meets and exceeds the daily requirement (2.4 mcg), even with the body’s limited absorption rate.
-
Since you no longer eat animal products and won’t be adding other supplements, your body should gradually reduce any excess B12 stores over time.
Why Cutting Cottage Cheese and Eggs Helps:
-
Both are natural sources of B12, and while they're not as concentrated as supplements, they do contribute to your total B12 intake.
-
You mentioned your B12 was 824 pg/mL, well above the typical upper limit (~663 pg/mL).
-
Continuing to eat eggs and dairy plus nutritional yeast could keep your B12 elevated unnecessarily.
So yes — going fully vegan and relying solely on nutritional yeast for B12:
-
Gives you a safe, steady intake.
-
Avoids excessive B12 accumulation.
-
Aligns with your health goals (Hashimoto’s, avoiding soy, etc.).
If your B12 is still elevated in 6 months despite these changes, it’s worth talking to your doctor about checking active B12, MMA, and homocysteine, but for now, this approach is thoughtful, healthy, and well-balanced. Let me know if you’d like a quick tracker for your nutrient intake or other vegan nutrients to monitor.
You said:
ChatGPT said:
That's a great question — and you're absolutely right to wonder about it. On the surface, it does seem like someone eating meat and dairy should have higher B12 levels than a vegan using only nutritional yeast. But here's why that's not necessarily the case:
B12 Absorption Is Highly Regulated
-
Your body tightly controls how much B12 it absorbs from food.
-
Only about 1.5–2 mcg per meal is absorbed via intrinsic factor (IF).
-
After that, only a tiny amount is absorbed passively (1–2% of the excess).
-
So even if someone eats a steak with 10 mcg of B12, they’ll still only absorb about 2 mcg.
🔹 You, eating 14 mcg/day from yeast, may be absorbing about 2–3 mcg, which is very similar to what a meat eater absorbs.
2. Storage and Usage Rates Differ
-
People vary in how efficiently they store, use, or excrete B12.
-
A meat-eater might be absorbing the same amount as you — but may be using it faster (due to metabolism, stress, inflammation, etc.).
-
Others may have subtle absorption issues (low stomach acid, gut issues) that lead to normal or low B12 despite high intake.
3. Transport Proteins Can Skew Test Results
-
A high serum B12 doesn't always mean excess usable B12. It can reflect:
-
Increased binding proteins like haptocorrin, which raises total B12 but not active B12
-
Lab-to-lab variations or transient spikes after a B12-rich meal (though yours was fasting)
-
So two people could eat very different diets but have similar B12 levels, depending on:
-
Absorption efficiency
-
Liver storage
-
Transport proteins
-
Genetics
-
Other nutrients (like folate or B6, which interact with B12 metabolism)
Why Your Level Might Be Higher (824 pg/mL):
-
You were consuming fortified yeast + eggs + dairy — a bit of everything.
-
You may absorb B12 more efficiently than average.
-
Your liver may store B12 very well, keeping your levels elevated longer.
-
You’re very healthy, with good digestion and low inflammation, so your body doesn’t deplete B12 quickly.
Bottom Line:
-
Meat eaters don’t automatically have high B12 because the body limits absorption and may use B12 differently.
-
Your elevated B12 likely reflects excellent absorption and past intake — not a problem.
-
By removing animal products and keeping nutritional yeast as your only source, your B12 level will likely trend back down into the normal range.
- Get link
- X
- Other Apps
Comments
Post a Comment