Is a b12 level of 2000 bad? For healthy individuals who are not at risk for B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
A condition characterized by low levels of vitamin B12.
Full Answer
Can you take too much B12?
The answer is yes. Hypercobalaminemia is the medical term for having high serum vitamin B12 levels. Credible reports suggest various reasons why a person may have excessive B12.
What is the recommended daily dose of B12?
While the recommended daily amount of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms, higher doses have been found to be safe. Your body absorbs only as much as it needs, and any excess passes through your urine.
Is high B12 a problem?
DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a vegan, and my multivitamin is my only source of B12. It states I’m getting 200% of my daily ... a result of “higher quality sensory input” to the brain. My problem is that even though I had my cataract evaluation with my ...
What does it mean when your blood test shows high B12 levels?
High vitamin B12 is a symptom of an underlying illness that causes the amount in your blood to increase. For example, a damaged liver may release the vitamin out of storage and into the blood. In early stages, illnesses associated with high vitamin B12 often have generic symptoms, such as fatigue and loss of appetite.
What is the importance of vitamin B12?
October 15, 2019. -. 48 Comments. Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) wasn’t fully described until 1956. It is essential for the development of red blood cells. It is also critical for the brain. Myelin, the fatty sheath that surrounds neurons, depends on vitamin B12 for full functionality. This nutrient is also key in the formation ...
Why does B12 pool?
Kathy responded with this observation: “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 . There is a low-cost blood test available that can detect this genetic defect. It is MTHFR.
Does metformin have vitamin B12?
High levels of vitamin B12 are unusual for someone on metformin. In fact, many people who take this diabetes drug have low vitamin B12 levels.
Can B12 be depleted?
A surprising number of medications can deplete the body of vitamin B12. That includes certain antibiotics and powerful acid-suppressing drugs as well as the oral diabetes medication metformin. Many people do not get their vitamin B12 levels measured and may not realize they are either too low or too high in this essential nutrient.
Is there a wealth of info on vitamin B12?
There is a wealth of info on vitamin B12, including some misinformation. Take what info you have and take yourself back to your doctor and he or she should be able to take it from there. If you are fobbed off – try another doctor.”. This is surprisingly complicated.
Does metformin cause digestive upset?
Routine testing of vitamin B12 levels in metformin-treated patients should be considered.”. Because metformin often causes digestive tract upset, many patients are also put on a proton pump inhibitor (PPIs) such as esomeprazole ( Nexium ), lansoprazole ( Prevacid) or omeprazole ( Prilosec ). Such drugs also deplete the body of vitamin B12.
What happens if you take too much vitamin B12?
Too much vitamin B12 activates specific bacteria that can lead to acne-promoting inflammation.
Why do we need B12?
Image Credit: skaman306/Moment/GettyImages. Your body needs Vitamin B12 for nerve tissue health, brain function and the formation of red blood cells. Because the vitamin is water soluble, any excess is excreted with your urine.
What causes vitamin B12 to accumulate in the liver?
High levels can be associated with diseases of the blood, such as leukemia; cancerous and other tumors; chronic liver disease; intestinal disease; blood disorders; autoimmune diseases with chronic inflammations; and hepatitis that causes vitamin B12 to accumulate in the liver, according to B12-Vitamin.org.
Can you get autism from taking too much B12?
Excess B12 During Pregnancy. Although folate is important for women during pregnancy, excess vitamin B12 intake could be associated with a greater risk of autism in their infants. A study published in Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology examined the effect of high vitamin B12 levels during pregnancy and at birth in relation to early brain ...
Does B12 cause autism?
Findings were that women who had extremely high levels of B12 had 2.5 times increased risk of their children developing autism, as compared with mothers who had normal levels of vitamin B12 — though, as the researchers stress, that doesn't necessarily mean B12 causes autism. In addition, because breast milk contains vitamin B12, ...
Can vitamin B12 cause allergic reactions?
Vitamin B12 can also cause very rare but serious allergic reactions. Symptoms may be swelling of the face, tongue and throat, and difficulty swallowing and breathing. If this occurs after you take vitamin B12, call 911 or your local emergency contact immediately. Advertisement.
How much B12 should I take daily?
For reference, the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin B12 is 2.4 mcg for both men and women, though pregnant and breastfeeding women have a higher need ( 11. Trusted Source. ).
What to do if you are deficient in B12?
If you think you may be deficient in B12, speak with your doctor, who can recommend an appropriate treatment based on your level of deficiency. While no UL has been set for B12, your body’s ability to absorb the vitamin depends on how much it actually needs.
What is the UL of B12?
UL refers to the maximum daily dose of a vitamin unlikely to cause adverse side effects in the general population. This threshold has not been set for B12 because your body excretes whatever it doesn’t use through your urine. However, supplementing with excessively high levels of B12 has been linked to some negative side effects.
What are the benefits of B12?
For example, studies show that supplemental B12 may benefit people without a deficiency in the following ways: 1 Improved mood: One study found that supplementing healthy men with a B-complex vitamin containing a high dose of B12 improved ratings of stress and enhanced performance on cognitive tests ( 3#N#Trusted Source#N#). 2 Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression: Treatment with a supplement containing a high dose of B12 for 60 days significantly improved depression and anxiety symptoms in adults when compared to a placebo ( 4#N#Trusted Source#N#).
Why is B12 important?
B12 is an important nutrient that is essential for red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis and many other vital processes. Supplements may help boost mood and reduce symptoms of depression in those who are not deficient in this vitamin.
How long does B12 help with anxiety?
Reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression: Treatment with a supplement containing a high dose of B12 for 60 days significantly improved depression and anxiety symptoms in adults when compared to a placebo ( 4. Trusted Source. ).
Does B12 cause acne?
However, supplementing with excessively high levels of B12 has been linked to some negative side effects. Several studies have shown that megadoses of the vitamin can lead to outbreaks of acne and rosacea, a skin condition that causes redness and pus-filled bumps on the face.
What is the normal B12 level?
Well, normal values of vitamin B12 are considered, in most countries, to be between around 200 to 900 pg/ml. However, as mentioned, many people show symptoms within that range. Therefore, we would like to suggest Sally Pacholok’s recommended vitamin B12 range: B12 Status. B12 Levels (pg/ml) Normal. 550 or higher.
What percentage of B12 is inactive?
Inactive analogues of B12 (transcobalamin I and III) may represent as much as 80% of your blood levels. If a significant amount of your B12 is inactive, a test may show that you have normal B12 levels. Your body can’t easily access these forms. The blood test doesn’t record what’s happening at the cellular level.
What does B12 do to your body?
B12 helps converting methylmalonyl CoA, one of the forms of MMA, into succinyl Coenzyme A. When you’re deficient in B12, MMA levels increase in both your blood and urine. You may be able to find MMA tests in private labs. If you can’t find one, you can order a urinary MMA test from Dr. Eric Norman (founder of the test).
Why is methyl B12 needed?
Methyl B12 is needed as a co-factor to convert homocysteine back into methionine. If you have normal B12 values, but high homocysteine levels, this may point to a deficiency or problem utilizing methyl B12. High homocysteine levels can also be the result of low B6, folate, renal failure or hypothyroidism.
What is the recommended B12 level for older adults?
For brain and nervous system health and prevention of disease in older adults, serum B12 levels should be maintained near or above 1000 pg/ml.”. The tragedy is with people who are symptomatic but are in the low range of vitamin B12 normal levels, between 200-500. This is a grey zone, and even though these folks show clinical signs ...
How accurate is the UMMA test?
Therefore, uMMA tests can predict one’s path toward permanent neurological impairments. The test has a whopping 99% accuracy, making it confirmatory. Keep in mind, if you have kidney disease you may get false high levels with the serum MMA test, or false low levels with the uMMA test.
What is the best test for B12?
Holotranscobalamin (HoloTC) Another useful test is the holotranscobalamin (HoloTC) test, which only records the active forms of B12 in the blood. Available at Viapath. This test should be a first-line diagnostic tool, and low levels may indicate B12 depletion at the cellular level.
My vitamin b12 levels are 2000 ml what does that mean?
Good!: You don't need vitamin B12 treatment (unless the level is due to getting B12 shots).
What does high vitamin B12 mean?
Ingesting much B12.: No known adverse effect of too much vitamin B12 in blood. You may not need to take any b12.
What does a high level of vitamin B12 do to me?
Nothing.: None toxic and will simply be urinated out, after your body's stores are filled. I take 2500mcg/day! for years!
