Q&A: GETTING YOUR B12 LEVELS TESTED – AT HOME

Vitamin B12 helps keep the body’s nerve and blood cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in all cells. Vitamin B12 also helps prevent a type of anaemia called megaloblastic anaemia that can make you feel tired and weak. So, it’s important to ensure you are getting enough B12 in your diet. But how do you know? In the past this could mean a trip to the GP, a lot of persuading that you need a test, and then a long wait.

Not anymore. B12 tests can now be done in the comfort of your own home, with results available in just a few days.  We tried the B12 test from Better You – it comes through the post in a slim box that fits through the letter box, it includes everything you need to take the sample, and you’ll get your results in just a few days.

Keeley Berry, Nutritional Expert and Product Developer at natural health brand, BetterYou, tells us more about these home tests and why they are important…

 

What is the process for having your B12 levels tested?
The Vitamin B12 Test works by taking a small blood sample using a quick and painless finger prick. The blood sample is collected in a small vial which you then pop into the prepaid envelope and post off to our UKAS accredited lab partners, who will analyse the sample.

Usually, your results will be processed within two working days of the lab receiving your sample. Once the analysis is complete, you will be notified by email and your results will be available to view via our online portal. You will also receive a bespoke supplementation plan directly from the team at BetterYou, this plan will be based on your results and whether you will need to maintain or increase your levels. A discount code will also be supplied which will enable you to redeem a complimentary Boost B12 Oral Spray at betteryou.com.

 

You supply, in the kit, all that’s needed to get the blood sample but sometimes it can be a bit tricky to get enough blood out. Do you have any handy tips to make sure there is enough blood to fill the vial?
We know that for some people collecting a blood sample isn’t easy, so our kits come with some handy advice for what you can do to help boost blood flow. Firstly, it’s important to ensure you are well hydrated before collecting your blood sample, so drink a large glass of water around 30 minutes before you take the test. Warming your hands and body will also help to ensure blood flows easily, so we recommend collecting your sample immediately after a hot shower or bath.

You can also get blood circulation flowing by doing some hand exercises such as clenching your first or wiggling your fingers and it may help to stand up rather than sit down when collecting the sample. You can also gently massage the finger (taking care not to apply too much pressure) or use an elastic band as a tourniquet around the knuckle of your finger – but be sure to remove it as soon as you have finished collecting the sample.

 

Why is testing your B12 at home important? Why not just ask your GP?
Taking an at-home nutrient testing service shouldn’t be seen as a substitute for seeing a doctor, so if you have a concern for your health or suspect you feel unwell due to a vitamin deficiency; we advise that you make an appointment with your GP.

For those that find making an appointment with their GP challenging, due to busy lifestyles, family commitments or demand on the NHS, an at-home kit may enable them to test their levels prior to speaking with a medical professional. As your results can be downloaded, they are easily shareable with your GP should you wish to seek further advice regarding your levels.

For many, the at-home testing service enables them to take charge of their wellbeing and ensure they’re considering their personal supplementation needs for optimal wellbeing. An at-home kit allows you to take the test in the comfort of your own home and in your own time, so you can fit this into your own schedule. Results are delivered to you via email and via your own personal dashboard too, making the whole process convenient, time-effective and straight forward.

 

What do the results tell you?
BetterYou’s Vitamin B12 Test Kit measures the active form – rather than the total – of vitamin B12 in the blood. This is the most accurate way to measure the available levels of the nutrient in the body and is the best early indicator of any possible deficiency.

When it comes to your results, your B12 level will be attributed to a specific reference range, for example; low, borderline, normal, borderline high or high. It is important for B12 to be kept within the range of ‘normal’ and ‘optimal’ to avoid different forms of anaemia and ensuring everyday energy levels are sustained.

 

If your B12 levels are low – what should you do?
If your results show insufficient levels, this will be made clear in your email and supplementation plan. As the supplementation advice will be tailored personally to you, the dosage requirements will be carefully planned to help you increase your levels in the first instance. With BetterYou’s Boost B12 Oral Spray – which you will be able to redeem free of charge once your results have been processed – this may mean a ‘loading dose’ of more than one spray per day for a certain period of time. Whatever your results show, it’s important to follow the supplementation plan as advised.

Vitamin B12 is notoriously difficult to absorb in the gut, so any dietary changes you implement may not be likely to drive change in your levels of the nutrient. This is one of the reasons daily supplementation is key for vitamin B12 and why an oral spray format – which delivers the active ingredient direct to the bloodstream via the inner cheek – is an effective way to elevate levels.

 

How soon should you get tested again after making changes to your diet/lifestyle?
Uptake of vitamin B12 in the body is fast – with clinical measures often visible within 48-72 hours through a blood test. That being said, B12 is a water-soluble nutrient, so it is important to replenish our stores on a daily basis to have a long-lasting effect on the body. The amount of time it will take to correct a deficiency will depend how deficient the person is to begin with, the dosage they are following and the why they are deficient in the first place, so it’s important to follow your personal plan.

When it comes to testing your levels again, if you are taking BetterYou’s Boost B12 Oral Spray (full dosage of 1200µg), you should expect to see a difference in your levels after 4-6 weeks. In the long term, some deficiencies can take 3-12 months to correct – often in cases of a medical condition. We also suggest testing at different times of the year to establish your year-round levels, for example every 3-4 months maximum.

 

If your B12 levels are fine – is it worth getting tested again in the future? If so when, how often, and why?
Yes, absolutely. Our nutrient levels can change depending on the time of the year, dietary, supplement or lifestyle factors and even with our varying life stages. For example, women’s B12 requirements will change with pregnancy and our need for certain nutrients also increases as we age (for both men and women), as our bodies become less efficient at absorbing nutrients from the foods we eat. This means it’s important to check your levels sporadically, or more frequently if you are concerned about your levels or have a history of a related medical condition.

 

Better You has recently made a commitment to utilising 100% recycled or carbon negative plastic across your entire product range – what does this mean in practice and what difference will it make?
Launching The Better Planet Project in 2019 was a huge moment for BetterYou and marks the beginning of a journey which will target every aspect of our business to ensure we’re reducing our impact on the planet.

Since launching the project, we have switched the packaging of our entire commercial range to plastic made from either 100 percent recycled materials, such as Ocean Waste Plastic and post-consumer recycling (PCR), or plant-based, carbon negative plastic. In practice, utilising recycled plastic means we’re able to help clean our oceans and waterways whilst also utilising consumer kerbside waste. In 2019 alone this initiative meant we were able to remove the equivalent of 2.8 million plastic bags from the ocean – a figure which we are set to double in 2020.

BetterYou’s plant-based plastic initiative allows us to look to the future of plastic packaging and we’re hugely proud of this unique process, which utilises sugarcane as an ethanol source – rather than fossil fuels. Accredited by the Carbon Trust, this plastic production is carbon negative; with more carbon dioxide absorbed during the growth of the sugarcane, than is expensed in packaging production and transport. Furthermore, the sugarcane harvesting is located in a designated area of Southern Brazil and is guaranteed to have zero impact on animal habitats or result in deforestation of the rainforest.

We’re also passionate about reducing our impact on the planet in all other aspects of the business, for example, the paper and card used for our Test Kits is sustainably sourced and proudly sports the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) mark. We believe it’s up to businesses to drive change towards a greener planet and we hope our actions will act as a catalyst for others in our industry.

 

Where can we buy/find out more in UK?
BetterYou’s at-home Test Kits are exclusively available to purchase online at betteryou.com.

The brand’s oral spray supplements and topical magnesium products can be purchased online at betteryou.com, Amazon and Boots in store and online. Certain products are also available at Lloyds Pharmacies, Waitrose stores, Superdrug and ocado.com, alongside all good independent health stores.

You can find out more about personalised supplementation and the at-home testing service at betteryou.com/athome-health-checks.