Time for the next step
Since its founding, the B12 Institute has invested in research and information sharing. In addition, the institute has been investing in collaboration with scientists all over the world. Now it is time to take the next step: towards further professionalization and expansion of B12 research and education.
Research
Despite the increased interest in the causes, symptoms and treatment of B12 deficiency, there is still a lack in the clinical research into B12 deficiency. Patients would benefit greatly from expanding and intensifying the research.
Some points of attention
- On which scientific research are the current opinions on the diagnosis and treatment of B12 deficiency based?
- What are adequate B12 normal values for adults, children and pregnant women?
- What is the most effective treatment of B12 deficiency?
Education
Awareness of medical symptoms and diagnostics
B12 deficiency is a serious disease with serious health consequences. The diagnosis of a B12 and Folate deficiency is difficult.
So far, no test has been developed that can be used to prove or rule out a B12 deficiency as a cause of complaints (Wiersma & Woutersen-Koch, 2014). Sometimes, the vitamin B12 measurements vary per laboratory (Oberley, 2013). A confusing situation.
Many renowned scientists have been pleading for years for a revision of vitamin B12’s cut-off values. Now the time for that revision has arrived.
In addition to relevant research, relevant information for General Practitioners is important. Too often we see that the NHG standard is not followed. As a result, patients are unnecessarily delayed in their recovery, sometimes leading to permanent damage. This could have been prevented.
The specialists of the B12 Institute regularly see patients with diagnoses such as MS, Parkinson, Alzheimer’s, ME, fibromyalgia and SOLK, for whom the B12 value, MMA and homocysteine have never been tested. Many of these patients appear to have a reduced B12 value (identified by retrospective research). The above-mentioned diseases, and B12 deficiency, show symptoms that are partly similar. Due to the lack of knowledge about B12 deficiency, it can be unclear to which of all those diseases, including B12 deficiency, the diseases mentioned can be traced. By sharing information and taking away prejudice, we want to ensure that testing of B12 value becomes as self-evident as testing of the hormone TSH in patients with neuro-geriatric complaints.
We hope that by means of thorough research and education in cooperation with universities around the world,
- physicians will be more open to all available research results and information;
- the old-fashioned curiosity for solutions will return;
- patient input will be taken seriously.