Vitamin B12 Archives

Tag: Vitamin B12

Chemical names: Cyanocobalamin, hydroxocobalamin, methylcobalamin

It is water soluble.
Deficiency may cause megaloblastic anemia, a condition where bone marrow produces unusually large, abnormal, immature red blood cells.
Good sources include: fish, shellfish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk and dairy products, some fortified cereals and soy products, as well as fortified nutritional yeast.

Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep the body’s nerve and blood cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in all cells. Vitamin B12 also helps people from feeling tired and weak. In Neuroendocrine Cancer, patients can be at risk of deficiencies, particularly Gastric and Small Intestine NETs and those who have had terminal ileum removed. Also known as cobalamin

27 Feb 2026

By Ronny Allan

0 Comments

Neuroendocrine Tumours (NET) – Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin)

Diet and Nutrition, Patient AdvocacyAtrophic gastritis, Autoimmune gastritis, B12 Cobalamin, Bile acid diarrhea, Diarrhea, Gastric NET, Lung NETs, Midgut, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), Pernicious anaemia, Right hemicolectomy, Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), Small intestine NET (SI NET), Somatostatin analogues, Vitamin B12, Whipple procedure

Before you read thisThis information is designed to help you understand how vitamins work in the body and how certain NET-related factors might affect them. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice. Every NET patient is different — tumour type, treatments, surgery, symptoms, and nutritional needs can vary widely.If you have concerns about vitamin levels, supplements, or symptoms, please speak with your NET clinical team. They can assess your individual situation and guide you safely. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin. Unlike fat-soluble vitamins, they are not stored in your body long term. They enter your bloodstream,…

26 Jun 2025

By Ronny Allan

0 Comments

An ENETS Position Statement on nutritional support in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms

Diet and NutritionBile acid malabsorption, Diet, Digestive enzymes, Fat malabsorption, Fat soluble vitamins, Nutrition, Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), Vitamin A, Vitamin ADEK, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D

I've written many times about Nutrition and NETs - clearly it should say NENs (Neuroendocrine Neoplasms) as the issues also extend to Neuroendocrine Carcinomas. I was helped in the early days by my friend and 'nutrition for NET' mentor Tara Whyand, at the time, probably the top NET Nutrition Registered Dietitian in the world. Perhaps she still is. Much of what Tara said and wrote, and what I emphasised, particularly in my blog and my patient group, was that much of this was not fully integrated into NEN patient care as part of a multi disciplinary approach. Many attempts have…

11 Jul 2024

By Ronny Allan

22 Comments

Did you hear the one about the constipated NET patient?

Awareness, Diet and Nutrition, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Survivorship, TreatmentAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, BAM, Bowel obstruction, Clexane, Constipation, Diarrhea, Diet, Fibre, IBS, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Lanreotide, Malabsorption, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Nutrition, Quality of LIfe (QoL), Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), Surgery, Vitamin ADEK, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Water soluble vitamins

In my neck of the woods, "did you hear the one about the ........." is normally a precursor to a witty comment, or a joke. However, constipation for NET patients is not actually funny - read on. Certain types of Neuroendocrine Cancer are very heavily associated with diarrhea, either as a symptom of one of the NET Syndromes (yes there is more than one .....); or as a result of surgery or certain other treatments. Occasionally, these symptoms and side effects can all combine to make it quite a nasty and worrying side effect. I must admit to being surprised to…

23 May 2024

By Ronny Allan

20 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer Nutrition Series Article 2 – Gastrointestinal Malabsorption

Diet and Nutrition, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Survivorship, TreatmentB12, Bile acid diarrhea, Bile acid malabsorption, Bile acid sequestrant, Bile acids, Bile salt, Carcinoid syndrome, Digestive enzymes, Endocrine, Fat malabsorption, Fat soluble vitamins, Gallbladder, Gut Flora, Hormones, Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Lanreotide, Liver, Malabsorption, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Nutrition, Octreotide, Pancreatic cancer, Pancreatic NET (PanNET), Pernicious anaemia, Probiotic, Quality of LIfe (QoL), Side effect, Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), Small intestine NET (SI NET), Somatostatin analogues, Steatorrhea, Surgery, Vitamin ADEK, Vitamin B12, Water soluble vitamins

Neuroendocrine Cancer Nutrition Series Article 2 – Gastrointestinal Malabsorption is the second article in the Neuroendocrine Cancer Nutrition series. In the first article, I focused on Vitamin and Mineral deficiency risks for patients and there is a big overlap with the subject of Gastrointestinal Malabsorption. Those who remember the content will have spotted the risks pertaining to the inability to absorb particular vitamins and minerals. This comes under the general heading of Malabsorption and in Neuroendocrine Cancer patients, this can be caused or exacerbated by one or more of a number of factors relating to their condition. It's also worth pointing out that…

23 May 2024

By Ronny Allan

29 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer Nutrition Series Article 1 – Vitamin and Mineral Challenges

Diet and NutritionAnorexia, Carcinoid syndrome, Fat soluble vitamins, Fatigue, Malabsorption, Mineral, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Nutrition, Vitamin A, Vitamin ADEK, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B7, Vitamin B9, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Water soluble vitamins

Always speak to your specialist before taking vitamin and mineral supplements. Featuring Tara Whyand Vitamin deficiency is common in the general population so your issue may not be related to NET. But read on to learn the risks for NET patients. Despite learning early on in my journey that nutrition was going to be a challenge, I sensed the initial focus of my treatment was on getting rid of as much tumour bulk as possible and then controlling (stabilising) the disease through monitoring and surveillance. Clearly I'm happy about that! However, it eventually became clear that the impact of this…

30 Jan 2018

By Ronny Allan

1 Comment

I now take food with my medicine!

Diet and Nutrition, Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, SurvivorshipAdvanced neuroendocrine cancer, Asthma, Carcinoid syndrome, Cholecalciferol, Creon, Diet, Eliquis (apixaban), Fat soluble vitamins, Hormones, Incurable cancer, Lanreotide, Levothyroxine, Malabsorption, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Nutrition, Octreotide, Omega 3, Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT), Probiotic, Pulmonary embolism, Quality of LIfe (QoL), Somatostatin analogues, Somatuline Autogel (US: depot), Supplements, Vitamin ADEK, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Water soluble vitamins

If you want to strike up a friendly conversion with a Brit, ask him or her about the weather - we're really famous for our weather conversations and they normally focus on rain or clouds! However, despite the famous British 'reserve' and 'stiff upper lip', they also frequently talk about being 'under the weather', a phrase meaning slightly unwell or in low spirits.I find myself smiling at some of the conversations I hear in medical establishment waiting rooms, particularly the potentially long wait for blood tests. Here, conversations bypass the weather and focus on being under the weather! I thought…

20 Dec 2017

By Ronny Allan

5 Comments

Neuroendocrine Cancer – surveillance and follow up

Living with Neuroendocrine Cancer, Patient Advocacy, SurvivorshipBiopsy, Grade, Hormones, Malabsorption, Metastatic Neuroendocrine Cancer, NET syndromes, Neuroendocrine, Neuroendocrine cancer, Neuroendocrine tumour (NET), Quality of LIfe (QoL), Surgery, Surveillance, Thyroid, Tumour marker, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D

Since 2010 I've had a lot of surveillance and testing. More than people can imagine. I can see from various comments on my public pages and posts within my private group, that some people get a lot more than me and I get more than others. It's not true to say we all get the same, there are many factors including stage, grade, type of Neuroendocrine Neoplasm, healthcare system/guidelines, miscellaneous problems, therapy, and even age.In the first year or two after diagnosis, I seemed to be in a continuous testing phase but that was mainly due to seeing so many…