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Suzie MacBritish singer seriously affected by vitamin B12 deficiency
Country:
 Great Britain |
Content:
- British Singer Left Gravely Ill by Vitamin B12 Deficiency
- Suzie Mack's Story
- Treatment and Research
- "I am determined to get my life back," says Suzie.
British Singer Left Gravely Ill by Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Memory Problems Can Signal Vitamin B12 DeficiencyDifficulties in remembering can be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency. However, getting the treatment you need can be a struggle, as singer Suzie is well aware. She has found it difficult to recall the lyrics to her own songs.
Suzie Mack from Truro, Cornwall, is now 25. Just 14 months ago, she was an energetic performer with high hopes for the future. Today, she finds it challenging to walk down the street on crutches for more than a few meters. Any slight exertion leaves Suzie confined to her bed for days. She sleeps for ten hours at a time, endures numbness and weakness in her limbs, and her hair is falling out in clumps.
"The hardest bit was when the doctor asked me what my parents' names were and I couldn't remember," says Mack.
Neurologists have told the singer that she is suffering from a lack of vitamin B12, a deficiency that is more common than many realize. Vitamin B12 is found in red meat, fish, dairy products, and fortified cereals. It is essential for healthy brain and nervous system functioning, helping the body to produce red blood cells, convert food into energy, and play a role in regulating mood.
"Research shows that at least 10% of people over the age of 65 are vitamin B12 deficient," says David Smith, Honorary Professor of Pharmacology at Oxford University. "As we get older, we produce less and less of the acid and enzymes in our stomachs that break down protein-bound B12 in our food, which is essential for the vitamin to be absorbed in the gut."
Some individuals cannot absorb vitamin B12 naturally. These include people with pernicious anemia, an autoimmune condition in which the body attacks the cells in the stomach that produce an enzyme called "intrinsic factor." This enzyme helps the intestines absorb vitamin B12. Similarly, those with Crohn's disease, an inflammatory condition of the digestive system, can struggle to absorb vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 deficiency can also occur as a result of taking long-term medications for acid reflux. These medications reduce acid production in the stomach, which can limit the body's ability to extract vitamin B12 from food.
A deficiency can be diagnosed when a screening test shows a level below 148 pmol/l. However, some experts suggest that thousands of patients with levels above this still have insufficient vitamin B12.
"The current cut-off for deficiency is too low," says Professor Smith. "Vitamin B12 deficiency is more common than people think. We have data suggesting that people are still deficient if their levels are up to 300 pmol/l."
The symptoms of a deficiency, such as fatigue, muscle weakness, vision problems, and numbness or tingling, are often vague and develop slowly. Because of this, "people often just think they are getting old."
"It's not a sudden thing like a heart attack or stroke. This builds up over a long time," Smith adds. "Memory loss is one of the key clinical markers of serious deficiency. If you can pick it up early, you can largely reverse the neurological problems with treatment."
Suzie Mack's Story
For Suzie Mack, her health took a dramatic turn following a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to peanuts. After a gig in February 2016, she ate a spoonful of curry that contained nuts. Her mouth, tongue, and throat swelled up instantaneously. She was rushed to hospital by ambulance and was kept in overnight.
"In June, I went to a songwriting retreat in Spain," recalls Suzie. "I was struggling to remember the words and the melodies of my own songs. One night I had a seizure and collapsed on the floor. I was there for several hours as I was too weak to get up."
"I flew home on a plane and my legs were numb and swollen. My mum took me straight to hospital."
Mack underwent a series of tests, including an MRI and a lumbar puncture. A blood test revealed her vitamin B12 level to be just 155 pmol/l.
While no definite link between anaphylaxis and vitamin B12 deficiency has yet been established, Professor Smith insists that more research is needed.
Treatment and Research
Following her diagnosis, Mack received eight weekly 1mg injections of hydroxocobalamin, an injectable form of B12, over three months. Injections are given in severe cases to ensure the B12 is absorbed directly into the bloodstream.
Suzie was then put on a regime of one injection every three months, which goes against National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance. For those with neurological symptoms, such as memory loss and depression, NICE advises more frequent injections.
Unsurprisingly, Mack's symptoms re-emerged when her dosage was reduced, and she had to move back in with her parents.
"Some people need more than one injection every three months," says Professor Smith.
"We need more research, but without it many GPs are unwilling to increase the dosage. Desperate patients resort to buying B12 over the internet and injecting it themselves to relieve their symptoms."
To reduce the risk of deficiency, Professor Smith recommends that anyone over the age of 50 takes a daily 500mcg B12 supplement with food. He also urges that everyone presenting to memory clinics should be screened for vitamin B12 deficiency.
In the meantime, Suzie is fundraising for cutting-edge treatment from Dr. Stephen Dreskin, an allergy and immunology specialist at the University of Colorado, USA. Dr. Dreskin has been pioneering research into the possible link between anaphylaxis and B12 deficiency.
