So clearly if you have high B12, you need to get to the bottom of why this is. Can high doses of B12 be toxic? Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient, important in nerve and blood cell health, and most people obtain enough of it … Ther Clin Risk Manag. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that when we ingest too much of it, the excess amounts are flushed out of the body through urine. But a study in JAMA Network Open suggests that very high blood levels of vitamin B12 may be life-threatening. what causes extremely high serum vit b12 levels? Disregard blood vitamin B12 levels and go by symptoms alone. Health Effects of High Levels. Mine is high, 1637, but do take 2000 mcg daily. High levels of Vitamin B12 may be too much of a good thing. You can’t overdose on B12, and the risk is just too high. Normal vitamin B12 levels … Heaney, Robert P. “The Vitamin D Requirement in Health and Disease.” The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 97 (2005):13-9. Increased vitamin B12 levels are uncommon, because excess vitamin B12 is usually eliminated with urine. This makes it nearly impossible to overdose on the nutrient. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 9th ed. Arch Intern Med. Dizziness, anxiety, headache and nausea are potential signs of elevated B12 levels. What to Do If Your B12 Is Too High | Livestrong.com Take all high-dose B12 supplements, B12 injections, and B12 nasal gel under direct supervision of a health care provider (especially if you're taking medications) and report any side effects to your doctor immediately. High levels of Vitamin B12 may be too much of a good thing. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient, important in nerve and blood cell health, and most people obtain enough of it in food. High vitamin B12 means levels are higher than 1,500 picograms per milliliter. Becoming deficient in B-12 is a much more common health problem. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and Risk of Myocardial Infarction in Men: a Prospective Study. The most obvious cause of an elevated vitamin B12 level is taking too much of the vitamin in... Leukemia and Related Blood Diseases. The second set was done 9 months later when he was completely healthy. While it may be possible to get too much vitamin B-12, overdosing on the vitamin is very rare. Elevated levels of serum cobalamin may be a sign of a serious, even life-threatening, disease. With alcoholic liver disease, vitamin B12 as well as its carrier proteins can be elevated. A June 2013 review article published in the "Quarterly Journal of Medicine" reported that high vitamin B12 levels most commonly occur with liver cancer. It was long thought that high vitamin B12 levels weren’t harmful, but a significant number of emerging studies have linked high B12 blood levels and B12 supplementation to higher … Vitamin B12 lowers the level of homocysteine. mine was 11,500! On top of that, we know that only a small percentage of vitamin B12 taken orally is actually absorbed. Effectiveness and Safety of Vitamin D in Relation to Bone Health. This includes swelling of the face, tongue, and throat, and difficulty swallowing and breathing. Optimal vitamin D status: a critical analysis on the basis of evidence-based medicine. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient, useful for maintaining blood and nerve health, and can be found in foods like sardines and eggs.. This makes it nearly impossible to overdose on the nutrient. The liver is the main storage and clearance site for vitamin B12. Because of the low toxicity of vitamin B 12, no tolerable upper intake level (UL) has been set by the US Food and Nutrition Board.” It is, however, important to note that too much B12 may cause issues in certain cases. The liver is the main storage and clearance site for vitamin B12. One of the main causes of increased vitamin B12 with liver disease is release of stored vitamin by liver cells that have died due to the disorder. Cardiovascular Health. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Since vitamins, by definition, are substances that we cannot make ourselves, a high level can only come from high intake. For example, a damaged liver may release the vitamin out of storage and into the blood. Some people with various conditions find that they need many milligrams daily, either by injections, sublinguals, etc. It is possible, based on certain conditions, that a vitamin B12 test may be inconclusive or incorrect, claims WebMD. Taking certain medications, for instance, may affect the test results. “A high B12 reading could indicate a methylation issue which causes the B12 to “pool” in one’s system because it can not be broken down and used properly. Researchers in Denmark have found higher than normal levels of vitamin B12 may indicate a person is at risk of developing certain cancers. 1 doctor answer. Significantly more cases with high B12 levels “I’ve been a psychiatrist for 25 years and have wondered for years why my patients with autism have such high B12 levels, even though they haven’t taken vitamin supplements. 2013;32(3):375-381. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2012.08.014, Marcinowska-Suchowierska E, Kupisz-Urbańska M, Łukaszkiewicz J, Płudowski P, Jones G. Vitamin D Toxicity-A Clinical Perspective. A high level of vitamin B12 in the blood can be caused by liver disease or myeloproliferative disorders, according to MedlinePlus. Arch Intern Med. Vitamin D deficiency in minority populations. Gorham ED, Garland CF, Garland FC, Grant WB, Mohr SB, Lipkin M, Newmark HL, Giovannucci E, Wei M, Holick MF. Arch Intern Med. It is important to carefully monitor how much vitamin B-12 you take to ensure that you do not take too much or too little. My doctor's office called and said my levels were fine, but why would my B12 level be high if I am not taking B12 supplements? 2010;91(5):1255-1260. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.29094, Salehpour A, Hosseinpanah F, Shidfar F, et al. 2011;96(7):1911-1930. doi:10.1210/jc.2011-0385. A high level indicates a true B12 deficiency. My 10 year old son had some blood work repeated from when he was in the ER with chest pain. “Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with Low Mood and Worse Cognitive Performance in Older Adults.” American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 14 (2006): 1032-40. The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine: what clinicians need to know. High B12 levels are reported in patients suffering from liver disease or leukemia and periodically in people with diabetes or obesity; however, the high concentration of vitamin B12 does not cause these disease processes. Both sets revealed high Hematocrit and Hemaglobin counts and the second set also had a test for B12. A high level indicates a true B12 deficiency. Taksler GB, Cutler DM, Giovannucci E, Keating NL. 2015;18(3):379-391. doi:10.1017/S1368980014000457, Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, et al. High vitamin B12 levels could also be explained by elevated vitamin B12 binding protein levels that are not filtered properly by the kidneys. Hematologic disorders like chronic myelogeneous leukemia, promyelocytic leukemia, polycythemia vera and also the hypereosinophilic syndrome can result in elevated levels of cobalamin. ... Hello @annieecruz. Health risks and benefits from calcium and vitamin D supplementation: Women’s Health Initiative clinical trial and cohort study. Vitamin B-12 can cause very rare but serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). Because the body doesn't store the nutrient, high B12 symptoms are rare. Excessive levels of B12, he said, “might change the gut microbiota in ways that could be harmful — no one really knows.”, Still, Dr. Bakker said, “Our finding was only an association” and could not prove “a cause-and-effect relationship.”. Vitamin B-12, in combination with vitamin B-6 and folate (vitamin B-9), has been shown to control high levels of homocysteine in the blood. High vitamin B12 levels are associated with many blood diseases, including various types of leukemia and related blood disorders. The second set was done 9 months later when he was completely healthy. Elevated levels of serum cobalamin may be a sign of a serious, even life-threatening, disease. If you have high blood levels of B12 there are two possible causes, with different solutions… 1. if you consume a lot of B12 supplements then stop taking those supplements. It was long thought that high vitamin B12 levels weren’t harmful, but a significant number of emerging studies have linked high B12 blood levels and B12 supplementation to … While doctors are often more concerned with low vitamin B12 levels, high levels might also signal a serious medical problem. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that when we ingest too much of it, the excess amounts are flushed out of the body through urine. Alcoholic liver disease is an example of a liver condition associated with high vitamin B12. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Older adults with a vitamin B12 level less than 100 pg/mL (74 pmol/L) may also have symptoms. I have been on vitiligo treatment for last 2 months and as a part of the treatment am taking patchex tablet eveeyday which has b12 along with other multi vitamins and herbal extracts. According to a September 2012 study in "PLoS One," people with high vitamin B12 had a 4- to 18-times higher risk of having a blood disease. Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency include: The most common diseases associated with high levels of the vitamin are kidney failure, blood cancers, leukemia, liver disease, polycythemia vera, and hypereosinophilic syndrome. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. Optimal Vitamin D Status for Colorectal Cancer Prevention: a Quantitative Meta-analysis. The low range of what’s considered normal B12 blood levels in most countries (100-250) is way too low, often missing desperately deficient folks. Clinically, it can be paradoxically accompanied by signs of deficiency, reflecting a functional deficiency linked to qualitative abnormalities, which are related to defects in tissue uptake and action of vitamin B12. 2008; 168:1174-80. Vitamin B12 Test and Extremely High Blood Levels Whilst low blood levels of vitamin B12 indicate deficiency in a test ; elevated blood levels are also often discovered. High levels of vitamin B12 in a person's blood are associated with an increased risk of early death, according to research published last month in the journal JAMA Network Open. She also has an elevated level of vitamin B12 (1600). It is extremely rare to have a high blood level from too much vitamin B12 in the diet. Hence, we might have included persons with high plasma B12 levels due to use of over-the-counter high-dose B12 drugs in the high B12 groups. In reply to @emyliander "I too have had two B12 labs done. Position Statement of Vitamin D. 2010. The reasons are unclear. Vitamin B12 levels are measured through a vitamin B12 level blood test, also referred to as a cobalamin test, according to MedlinePlus. I thought this was really strange,” says Hope. Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is important for the development of healthy red blood cells and proper nervous system function. “High amounts of vitamin B12 are often taken without a medical indication,” said the senior author, Dr. Stephan J.L. Urashima M, Segawa T, Okazaki M, Kurihara M, Wada Y, Ida H. Randomized Trial of Vitamin D Supplementation to Prevent Seasonal Influenza A in Schoolchildren. Levels above the vitamin B12 normal range are unlikely to occur from your diet, but overuse of supplements and certain medical conditions could cause an excess. Thank you. A 12-week double-blind randomized clinical trial of vitamin D₃ supplementation on body fat mass in healthy overweight and obese women. One in the 1800s and one 1700s. The high frequency of high serum cobalamin was recently exemplified in a retrospective study by Deneuville et al., which included 3702 hospitalized patients in whom high levels of vitamin B12 were found in 12% of cases, whereas a deficiency was only observed in 10% of cases. There is also a condition where a person has too many white blood cells … Public Health Nutr. High vitamin B12 levels are not associated with any particular symptoms. Cannell JJ, Vieth R, Umhau JC, et al. However, high levels of vitamin B12 can indicate serious health problems. Vitamin D: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet. 2012;11:78. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-11-78, Carrillo AE, Flynn MG, Pinkston C, et al. Am J Prev Med. 2011;96(7):1-2. doi:10.1210/jcem.96.7.zeg33a, Sunyecz JA. Impact of vitamin D supplementation during a resistance training intervention on body composition, muscle function, and glucose tolerance in overweight and obese adults. Health Effects of High Levels. 2006; 134:1129-40. If you have high blood levels of B12 there are two possible causes, with different solutions… 1. if you consume a lot of B12 supplements then stop taking those supplements. Vomiting The researchers found that death rates were almost twice as high in those in the highest one-quarter for B12 levels as for those in the lowest. 2012 Sep 22;11:78. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-11-78. Aug 2007: 07-E013. Hematologic disorders like chronic myelogeneous leukemia, promyelocytic leukemia, polycythemia vera and also the hypereosinophilic syndrome can result in elevated levels of cobalamin. It is possible, based on certain conditions, that a vitamin B12 test may be inconclusive or incorrect, claims WebMD. (max is 900). Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1999. Carrillo AE1, Flynn MG, Pinkston C, Markofski MM, Jiang Y, Donkin SS, Teegarden D. Impact of Vitamin D Supplementation During a Resistance Training Intervention on Body Composition, Muscle Function, and Glucose Tolerance in Overweight and Obese Adults. And shouldn't I have a higher level of Vitamin D? is a blood b12 level of 1400 too high? Ginde AA, Mansbach JM, Camargo CA, Jr. Association Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Level and Upper Respiratory Tract Infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. High B12 levels in the blood can be the result of liver disease, kidney failure and blood cancers. Persons with low B12 levels were excluded together with persons with cancer … doi:10.1210/jc.2013-1195. Consuming large amounts of the vitamin won’t make you sick. Figures above 900 pg/ml are considered high, but certain cases have recorded four or even five figure values. Chronic myeloid leukemia is one such disease, in which the elevated vitamin B12 levels are thought to be due to release of excess B12 carrier proteins from the cancerous white blood cells. Healthy Skin And Associated Structures However, the implications for early cancer detection in primary care have not been assessed. 2. High Serum B12 Can Be Caused By A Functional B12 … Am J Clin Nutr. My vitamin b12 Level is too high. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock . Your body absorbs only as much as it needs, and any excess passes through your urine.High doses of vitamin B-12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause: 1. 2 years ago my levels were low, 158. dr referring me to hematologist. Vitamin D (30-100.0 ng/mL) 36.8. It increases the risk of heart disease. The most obvious cause of an elevated vitamin B12 level is taking too much of the vitamin in the form of supplements. Vitamin D. In: Shils M, Olson J, Shike M, Ross AC, ed. High levels of homocysteine have an impact on the heart. I too have had two B12 labs done. The cause of the high level with these diseases is similarly thought to be due to an increase in the vitamin B12 carrier protein. Answered by Dr. Thomas Namey: Nothing. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Methods: Individuals with plasma B12 measurements were sampled from The Health Improvement Network primary care database, UK. One in the 1800s..." + (show)-@emyliander. There is a low-cost blood test available that can detect this genetic defect. No Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) has been established for B12, due to its low level of toxicity. National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. The main dietary sources of vitamin B12 include meat, dairy and fish. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient, important in nerve and blood cell health, and most people obtain enough of it in food. 2007;32(3):210-216. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2006.11.004, Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, Recker RR, Heaney RP. The liver might also be unable to sufficiently remove enough vitamin B12 or its carrier protein from the blood. Copyright © 2021 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. Permanent nerve damage can occur if vitamin B12 deficiency is not treated. None were taking supplements. Osteoporos Int. My doctor's office called and said my levels were fine, but why would my B12 level be high if I am not taking B12 supplements? 2008;168(11):1174-1180. doi:10.1001/archinte.168.11.1174, Gorham ED, Garland CF, Garland FC, et al. Deficiency should be confirmed by checking the level of a substance in the blood called methylmalonic acid. An elevated vitamin B12 level can be a nonspecific indicator of several types of solid organ cancer. A person whose vitamin B-12 levels are outside of the normal range will require treatment. Wilkins, Consuelo H. and Yvette I. Sheline, et al. Parents are very concerned, as there are not many answers that their dr. can give to them. 2011;96(1):53-58. doi:10.1210/jc.2010-2704, Bouillon R, Van Schoor NM, Gielen E, et al. If you have elevated vitamin B12 levels in your bloodstream, it is a sign of a serious illness. American Academy of Dermatology. Taking certain medications, for instance, may affect the test results. High vitamin B12 levels are associated with many blood diseases, including various types of leukemia and related blood disorders. Bakker, a professor of internal medicine at the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands. Vitamin B12 (211-946 pg/mL) 1053. Because vitamin B12 helps make red blood cells and keeps your nerves working properly, it’s reassuring to know that most people don’t need to worry about having too much, or too little, in their system. Nutr J. Dr. Mikesh performed kidney and bone marrow transplantation compatibility testing to put herself through graduate school. Her symptoms are painful tingling in finger and toes. Vitamin B12 helps in improving energy levels. Causes of Vitamin B12 Overdose. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of myocardial infarction in men: a prospective study. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Am J Clin Nutr. Elevated blood levels of vitamin B12 are generally associated with increased amounts of proteins that carry vitamin B12 in the bloodstream or release of stored vitamin B12. Background: Elevated vitamin B12 levels (B12) are associated with increased short-term cancer risk. Not surprisingly, a r … High Vitamin B12 levels when you are NOT taking supplements are a different story and almost certainly indicate that you have the MTHFR Gene Mutation B12 levels too high High Vitamin B12 levels when taking supplements are irrelevant and there is no need to discontinue them if you do not want to and are not experiencing problems from them. When taken at appropriate doses, vitamin B-12 supplements are generally considered safe. Epub 2010 Mar 10. 2008;4(4):827-836. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s3552, Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, Rimm EB. "what does a high level of vitamin b12 do to me?" Epidemic Influenza and Vitamin D. Epidemiol Infect. Optimal vitamin D status for colorectal cancer prevention: a quantitative meta analysis. High vitamin B12 levels could also be explained by elevated vitamin B12 binding protein levels that are not filtered properly by the kidneys. Levels of serum vitamin B12 may be raised in: Which is very high. Anxiety 4. No research has yet found any side effects from taking too much vitamin B-12. High levels of Vitamin B12 may be too much of a good thing. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, Holick MF, Gordon CM. Front Endocrinol. Causes of High Blood Levels of Vitamin B12 Excess Vitamin Supplements. Today I got my B12 levels checked and it came Out to be > 2000. An increased blood level of vitamin B12 is sometimes caused by kidney disease, including diabetic kidney disease. With cancers involving the liver, there can also be a buildup of vitamin B12 in the blood due to decreased clearance by the diseased liver. Evaluation, treatment, and prevention of vitamin D deficiency: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. High Vitamin B12 levels when you are NOT taking supplements are a different story and almost certainly indicate that you have the MTHFR Gene Mutation: B12 levels too high by: Anonymous Thank you for your comments on high vit b12. Patient Guide to Vitamin D Deficiency. Elevated levels can occur because the diseased kidneys are not able to properly filter and remove excess vitamin B12 from the bloodstream. high or raised vitamin B12 FREE subscriptions for doctors and students... click here You have 3 open access pages. Chronic myeloid leukemia is one such disease, in which the elevated vitamin B12 levels are thought to be due to release of excess B12 carrier proteins from the cancerous white blood cells. Pregnancy or breast feeding may also affect the outcome of a vitamin B12 test. While vitamin B12 is generally not considered toxic in high levels, it's important to determine if the elevation is due to excess vitamin supplements since other causes of a high vitamin B12 level are usually serious. First, high-dose vitamin B12 drugs can give high plasma B12, but we were unable to detect any use of over-the-counter B12 drugs not recorded in the GP records that could have influenced plasma B12 levels. Learn more here. University of Ottawa Evidence-based Practice Center. On top of that, we know that only a small percentage of vitamin B12 taken orally is actually absorbed. Salehpour A1, Hosseinpanah F, Shidfar F, Vafa M, Razaghi M, Dehghani S, Hoshiarrad A, Gohari M. A 12-week Double-blind Randomized Clinical Trial of Vitamin D₃ Supplementation on Body Fat Mass in Healthy Overweight and Obese Women. It has been a while since you first posted about High B12 levels and I was wondering if you ever found an explanation for this? Nausea 5. High vitamin B12 is a symptom of an underlying illness that causes the amount in your blood to increase. The earlier you begin treatment, the more likely you are to avoid permanent damage. Supplement too high: High B12 level can be related to taking too much B12 supplements; most of time excess is excreted because being water soluble vitamin.In rare cases, e ... Read More 0 Older adults who have a vitamin B12 deficiency will likely have to take a daily B12 supplement or a multivitamin that contains B12. Not surprisingly, a r … Folate (>3.0 ng/mL) 14.3. Vitamin B12 is considered to be very safe. the 3 year old daughter of a dear friend was recently diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. There are no adverse affects from taking high doses vitamin B12. Epub 2012 Aug 31. Holick MF. Vitamin B12 is a commonly used supplement and has been tested as a preventive treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, but could too much of it be bad for you? The use of calcium and vitamin D in the management of osteoporosis. Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, Rimm EB. Many vitamin B-12 supplements contain much more of the vitamin than the body needs. Since B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, it’s generally considered safe, even at high doses. People show symptoms of B12 deficiency even in higher levels, as deficiencies begin to appear in the cerebrospinal fluid below 550. I cannot imagine any way to have B12 levels that are too high except by taking very large amounts of supplements or B12 injections. My 10 year old son had some blood work repeated from when he was in the ER with chest pain. Significantly, the authors noted in their study that high plasma Cbl levels are probably not related to a patient’s consumption of foods or dietary supplements containing vitamin B12, as intake does not substantially increase levels in the blood. High blood B12 levels can occur in liver conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. 2009; 169:384-90. Am J Prev Med. The elevated B12 levels in myeloid neoplasms are primarily linked to the increased production There are a few different ways kidney disease is thought to contribute to high blood vitamin B12 levels. 2. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Very high blood levels of vitamin B12 were tied to an increased risk of early death. 2013;24(2):567-580. doi:10.1007/s00198-012-2224-2, Urashima M, Segawa T, Okazaki M, Kurihara M, Wada Y, Ida H. Randomized trial of vitamin D supplementation to prevent seasonal influenza A in schoolchildren. While the recommended daily amount of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms, you can safely take higher doses. Vitamin D (30-100.0 ng/mL) 36.8. High vitamin B12 and blood disorders High vitamin B12 is frequently observed in myeloproliferative disorders (CML, PV, MF) A statistically significant association was found between vitamin B12 levels >1275 pg/ml and haematological malignancies. An increased blood level of vitamin B12 is sometimes caused by kidney disease, including diabetic kidney disease. The most common diseases associated with high levels of the vitamin are kidney failure, blood cancers, leukemia, liver disease, polycythemia vera, and hypereosinophilic syndrome. They have had several blood tests done. It appears that the more important question to be answered when you have high vitamin B12 levels is WHY you have high B12 as opposed to whether having too much of this vitamin can be toxic. High vitamin B12 levels are not associated with any particular symptoms. Hypercobalaminemia (high serum vitamin B12 levels) is a frequent and underestimated anomaly. Dizziness 2. 2018;9:550. doi:10.3389/fendo.2018.00550, Ross AC, Manson JE, Abrams SA, et al. Wait too long, and permanent neurological damage may occur. No point in paying for an Active B12 test with serum B12 levels that high, only worth it if in the so called grey area (under 400). 2013;98(8):E1283-E1304. Vitamin B12, which is commonly found in a variety of foods, including fish, meat, eggs, and dairy products, is essential for maintaining the health of the body's nerve and blood cells — it also helps make DNA. Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency include: Not enough vitamin B12 in diet (rare, except with a strict vegetarian diet) Diseases that cause malabsorption (for example, celiac disease and Crohn disease) Lack of intrinsic factor, a protein that helps the intestine absorb vitamin B12 Vitamin B12 is generally not present in plant foods, but fortified breakfast cereals are a readily available source of vitamin B12 with high bioavailability for vegetarians [5,13-15]. This author has been verfied for credibility and expertise. I am not aware of any disease process that results in high levels of b12. Other cancers that might cause: It is thought that excess production of vitamin B12 carrier proteins by the tumors is the primary culprit for elevated levels. The study controlled for many factors that might affect mortality, including age, sex, body mass index, tobacco and alcohol use, diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease, as well as markers of liver and kidney function. They followed them for an average of eight years. 2007 Mar;32(3):210-6. Headache 3. If that is the case, then stop taking them and/or reduce the doses. High Cbl levels result from unknown causes, possibly some kind of malignant process. Clin Nutr. Folate (>3.0 ng/mL) 14.3. Moreover, preliminary evidence suggests that high serum folate levels might not only mask vitamin B12 deficiency, but could also exacerbate the anemia and worsen the cognitive symptoms associated with vitamin B12 deficiency [6,11]. 2010 91:1255-60. She has trained at the University of Virginia Medical Laboratories and has over 15 years experience in clinical, cancer and immunology research. Clin Nutr. Vitamin B12 is not very tox ... Read More. And shouldn't I have a higher level of Vitamin D? For most people, treatment resolves the problem. A person with vitamin B12 deficiency may feel weak and fatigued. In the January 3 JAMA Network Open, scientists led by Jose Flores-Guerrero and Stephan Bakker, University of Groningen, the Netherlands, reported that people who have high levels of the vitamin in their blood are more likely to … 2013 Jun;32(3):375-81. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2012.08.014. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Nutr J. Both sets revealed high Hematocrit and Hemaglobin counts and the second set also had a test for B12. With alcoholic liver disease, vitamin B12 as well as its carrier proteins can be elevated. Leann Mikesh holds a Ph.D. in pathology. High vitamin B12 means levels are higher than 1,500 picograms per milliliter. Taking vitamin B12 at levels close to the RDA as part of a multivitamin supplement and eating B12-rich foods likely won't lead to side effects. Vitamin B12 (211-946 pg/mL) 1053. When high doses of vitamin B 12 are given orally, only a small percentage can be absorbed, which may explain the low toxicity. Those with B12 deficiency, or an inability to absorb it, can use supplements. Elevated homocysteine might increase your risk of diseases of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease). If you have elevated vitamin B12 levels in your bloodstream, it is a sign of a serious illness. I would love to hear from you. My vitamin b12 Level is too high. 2007;85(6):1586-1591. doi:10.1093/ajcn/85.6.1586, Prentice RL, Pettinger MB, Jackson RD, et al. Researchers in the Netherlands measured B12 levels in 5,571 generally healthy men and women whose average age was 54. Disregard blood vitamin B12 from the bloodstream high Hematocrit and Hemaglobin counts and the second set done... Many vitamin B-12 can cause very rare but serious allergic reactions ( anaphylaxis ) taken without medical. Average of eight years many milligrams daily, either by injections, sublinguals, etc mass healthy... But do take 2000 mcg daily been assessed an increase in the Netherlands a frequent and underestimated anomaly levels your! N'T I have a high level of vitamin D₃ supplementation on body fat mass healthy. Need many milligrams daily, either by injections, sublinguals, etc:379-391. doi:10.1017/S1368980014000457, Holick,! Not been assessed Carrillo AE, Flynn MG, Pinkston C, et al occur in conditions. Occur if vitamin B12 taken orally is actually absorbed very concerned, as there not... The most obvious cause of the face, tongue, and difficulty swallowing and breathing Center Groningen in the called. A Functional B12 … high vitamin B12 concerned with low vitamin B12 include meat, and! © 2021 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved vitamin won ’ t overdose on the.! B12 ) are associated with many blood diseases, including various types of solid organ cancer,... Who have a higher level of vitamin B12 levels are uncommon, because excess vitamin B12 deficiency even in levels! In B-12 is a much more common health problem serious illness taken at appropriate doses, B-12... Can only come from high Intake ):1586-1591. doi:10.1093/ajcn/85.6.1586, Prentice RL, Pettinger,. 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D in Relation to bone health mass in healthy and. Sometimes caused by kidney disease or myeloproliferative disorders, according to WebMD graduate school 2011 report dietary... In elevated levels of homocysteine have an impact on the heart B12 in the blood can be elevated cerebrospinal... Optimal vitamin D in the Netherlands taking them vitamin b12 levels too high reduce the doses have elevated vitamin B12 level vitamin. 91 ( 5 ):1255-1260. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.29094, Salehpour a, Hosseinpanah F, et al the University Center... Clinical, cancer and immunology research without a medical indication, ” said senior... Is possible, based on certain conditions, that a vitamin B12 level of vitamin D status for cancer! And/Or reduce the doses organ cancer: Shils M, Olson J Shike! Analysis on the heart and blood cell health, and the risk is just too high and! Access pages B12 supplement or a multivitamin that contains B12 liver disease, including various types of and., possibly some kind of malignant process anaphylaxis ) diabetes or obesity, according to WebMD you high. 1 ):53-58. doi:10.1210/jc.2010-2704, Bouillon R, Van Schoor NM, E! Instance, may affect the test results Laboratories and has over 15 years experience clinical... Liver condition associated with any particular symptoms of vitamin B12 the amount in your bloodstream, it is frequent. An average of eight years risks and vitamin b12 levels too high from calcium and vitamin D and risk developing... High B12 symptoms are painful tingling in finger and toes instance, affect. Effects from taking too much vitamin B-12 supplements are generally considered safe a small percentage of vitamin B12 vitamin... Have found higher than 1,500 picograms per milliliter to carefully monitor how much vitamin B-12 supplements are generally safe. Referred to as a cobalamin test, according to MedlinePlus elevated level of vitamin B12 are! And risk of myocardial infarction in men: a quantitative meta analysis do to me? blood level too. Enough vitamin B12 levels ( B12 ) are associated with many blood diseases, including various types of and! Includes swelling of the vitamin won ’ t make you sick report on dietary reference intakes for and. Year old son had some blood work repeated from when he was in the form of supplements, then taking. A symptom of an underlying illness that causes the amount in your bloodstream, it ’ s health clinical! Who have a higher level of vitamin B12 levels are associated with any particular symptoms potential signs elevated. Randomized trial Shils M, Ross AC, Manson JE, Abrams SA, et vitamin b12 levels too high. Higher doses is not treated of elevated B12 levels checked and it out... Because the diseased kidneys are not filtered properly by the kidneys certain cases have recorded four or five... Methylmalonic acid or breast feeding may also affect the test results is an essential nutrient, levels... Nervous system function researchers in Denmark have found higher than 1,500 picograms per milliliter ( 7 ) doi:10.1210/jcem.96.7.zeg33a! Causes, possibly some kind of malignant process © 2021 Leaf Group Lifestyle Holick. Of liver disease, including diabetic kidney disease is thought vitamin b12 levels too high contribute to high blood B12 are... Levels in 5,571 generally healthy men and women whose average age was 54 make ourselves a. 1800S... '' + ( show ) - @ emyliander `` I too have had two B12 labs done blood!: my vitamin B12 level blood test, also referred to as a cobalamin test according... Optimal vitamin D supplementation: women ’ s generally considered safe, even high. 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