Hi Terry,
Remember that I'm not a doctor, so I can't give any medical advice, but I can say that if those were my own results, this is how I would interpret them:
Your low red cell count suggests either iron deficiency or vitamin B-12 or folate deficiency. The high MCV and MCH results indicate that the reason for your anemia is most likely due to a deficiency of B-12 or folate, or both. This could also be due to hypothryroidism. Were your Free T2, Free T4, and TSH (thyroid tests) levels also tested?
Your MCHC result is not out of range, but it's near the top of the range, which should rule out iron deficiency, so this also suggests that the reason for your low red cell count is more likely due to a B-12 and/or folate deficiency.
But your B-12 level is mid-range, suggesting that you have plenty, and your folate level is high, suggesting (to most doctors, anyway) that you have plenty of folate in your diet. Obviously this conflicts with what I noted above (about indicating a B-12 and/or folate deficiency).
So here is what I suspect is going on (and please don't expect your doctor to go along with this, unless she or he is acquainted with methylation issues):
Your above-normal homocysteine result confirms that like many of us here, you have methylation issues. You might simply be short of certain B vitamins, or you might have methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene mutations IOW, your body might not be unable to properly utilize the folate in your diet, and so it ends up boosting your homosteine level. If our body's ability to convert ordinary folate into the active form is compromised so that an adequate supply is not always available to be used (by the body, to perform many routine chemical transformations), then we are also unable to properly utilize B-12. We do better if we supplement with the active forms of both folate (methylfolate) and B-12 (methylcobalamin), rather than the common, cheap, forms found in "enriched" foods and most supplements. Some of us, for example, do better if we keep our vitamin B-12 level near the upper part of the so-called "normal" range.
If you have MTHFR gene mutations, and/or you're unfamiliar with methylation issues, reading some of the information (and the references listed in the posts) in the threads at this link, may be helpful:
http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=78
Also, the DNA testing offered by 23andme, supplemented by the use of third-party interpretations (such as GeneticGenie), can pinpoint whether you actually have any MTHFR gene mutations, and if you do, which methylation issues you have.
The low B-1 (thiamine) result, as you are probably aware, is associated with depression. B-1 deficiency is associated with IBDs, presumably because of the malabsorption problems associated with them. If you aren't taking a thiamine supplement it should be very helpful. If you are taking a supplement, you may need to increase the dosage. Most of the thiamine in the body is in the active form, thiamin diphosphate (also known as thiamin pyrophosphate). Since your level is low, it may or may not be associated with the methylation issue. I don't know enough about B-1 to even guess. Hopefully your doctor may be qualified to make a judgement about it.
Most doctors don't order a B-1 test, so apparently your doctor is on top of this, and hopefully understands menthylation issues. If she or he doesn't, show them this article:
Homocysteine, folate, methylation, and monoamine metabolism in depression
Note that your folate numbers do not fit the pattern shown in that article. Apparently you're getting a lot of folate.
Methyhylation ties back to the low red cell count, also. Methylation issues affect many aspects of health, and becoming better methylated will resolve many problems and it will also allow you to lower your homocysteine level, which will significantly reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular issues and/or Alzheimer's or other forms of age-related dementia.
I almost forgot — you may also need to supplement with the active form of B-6. Many of us take a prescription combination of the active forms of vitamins B-12, B-9, and B-6 known as Metanx, in order to help overcome our methylation issues. I have taken it for over 6 years now. The bad news is, it's expensive and not usually covered by insurance.
And this article should be very helpful:
Maximizing Methylation: The Key to Healthy Aging
I hope that some of this is helpful.
Tex
