Symptoms of this condition include:
- diarrhea or constipation
- exhaustion
- loss of appetite
- pale skin
- inflamed red tongue, or gums that bleed
- Headache.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea.
- Fatigue or weakness.
- Tingling sensation in hands and feet.
What does it mean if your B12 is too high?
“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.
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 does a high B12 level indicate?
High vitamin B12 levels are associated with many blood diseases, including various types of leukemia and related blood disorders. 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.
What are the warning signs of a B12 deficiency?
Top Warning Signs of B12 Deficiency
- Tiredness. If you often feel exhausted, regardless of how much sleep you’ve gotten or how much energy you’ve exerted, it could be a sign that your body is lacking ...
- Mood swings. Do you find yourself experiencing a variety of emotions throughout any given day? ...
- It may result in depression. ...
- Digestive issues. ...
- Inflammation of the mouth and tongue. ...
- Insomnia. ...
Are lab test results always right?
While they do have to meet very high standards, they can be wrong sometimes. For example, you might get a false positive (the results say you have the condition you were tested for, but you really don’t) or a false negative (the results say you don’t have a condition, but you really do).
Important note
Please keep notes of the symptoms you are experiencing. These notes can help your doctor identify high vitamin b12 impact on your body. Keep the notes till the time you experience symptoms of high vitamin b12 and also keep a record of the following:
Does drinking water before blood test affect results?
Certain blood tests require fasting beforehand. Fasting before certain blood tests is important to help make sure that your test results are accurate. Read on to learn more about the effects of water on blood test results.
Why is my B12 level so high?
Are your vitamin B12 levels too high? This may be because of an illness like liver disease, kidney failure, or cancer, releasing the B12 back into the blood. Early diagnosis is key, so if you show excess B12 levels, go and have the tests done.
Why is B12 high in blood?
Causes of High B12 Levels In Blood. If your test shows excessive B12 levels, in the absence of supplementation, this may be a sign of liver disease or cell death (and the breakdown of tissues) that release the vitamin back into your blood circulation.
What is the aetiological profile of high serum cobalamin?
The aetiological profile of high serum cobalamin predominantly encompasses severe disease entities for which early diagnosis is critical for prognosis. These entities are essentially comprised of solid neoplasms, haematological malignancies and liver and kidney diseases.
Where does B12 get flushed out?
Most of it gets flushed out in the urine; the rest is absorbed in the liver, kidneys and muscle tissues. When your test shows 1000pg/ml, only about 5mcg floats around in your blood. Have a good B12-rich steak and your serum level shoots up to more than 1500pg/ml for a short duration.
Is it normal to have high blood count when taking supplements?
If, however, you’re supplementing (and everything else is normal), then increased levels should not concern you. Your blood numbers are going to be high around the clock.
Is vitamin B12 absorbed in the liver?
If you’ve been supplementing, however, high levels are normal. Most of it gets flushed out in the urine; the rest is absorbed in the liver , kidneys and muscle tissues.
What happens if you take too much B12?
Although vitamin B12 is an essential vitamin that we need to develop and function properly, what happens when we take too much of it? There isn’t a tolerable upper intake level for vitamin B12, as it’s considered a vitamin with low levels of toxicity. That means that there’s no maximum daily dose that’s known to cause adverse effects to the general population.
How to prevent vitamin B12 overdose?
The best way for healthy individuals to prevent a vitamin B12 overdose is to eat a well-rounded and healthy diet, incorporating foods high in B12 like organic animal meat, wild seafood, organic dairy products and eggs.
How Much Vitamin B12 Should You Take?
Stages of life, lifestyle changes, diet and health conditions all impact the amount of vitamin B12 you need to avoid a deficiency. The National Institutes of Health recommend the following daily dosage of vitamin B12:
How much B12 is needed for breastfeeding?
Women who are breastfeeding: 2.8 micrograms. Adults over the age of 50 are at a greater risk of vitamin B12 deficiency because they tend to produce less stomach acid, which is needed to convert the vitamin properly.
Is vitamin B12 bad for you?
The Institute of Medicine reports that there are no adverse effects associated with excess vitamin B12 intake from food and supplements in healthy individuals. If you don’t have a vitamin B12 deficiency to begin with or you don’t first address the underlying causes of a deficiency, high doses of vitamin B12 will not work to improve your quality of life.
Can you take B12 with a deficiency?
People without a deficiency should not take megadoses of B12. Also, some people have trouble properly absorbing the nutrient because of issues involving the GI tract or lack of stomach acid. For these people, taking more and more vitamin B12 isn’t going to solve their problem.
Does vitamin B12 affect unborn children?
Have a negative impact on unborn children: A study published in Pediatric Perinatal Epidemiology found that extremely high plasma folate and vitamin B12 levels in pregnant women were associated with risk of autism spectrum disorder.
Overview
Vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) plays an essential role in red blood cell formation, cell metabolism, nerve function and the production of DNA, the molecules inside cells that carry genetic information.
Evidence
Research on the use of vitamin B-12 for specific activities and conditions shows:
Our take
Most people get enough vitamin B-12 from a balanced diet. However, older adults, vegetarians, vegans and people who have conditions that affect their ability to absorb vitamin B-12 from foods might benefit from the use of oral supplements.
Safety and side effects
When taken at appropriate doses, vitamin B-12 supplements are generally considered safe. 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.
Interactions
Aminosalicylic acid (Paser). Taking this drug used to treat digestive problems might reduce your body's ability to absorb vitamin B-12.
What causes a B12 level to increase?
Health conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), certain medications, genetic mutations, age and dietary restrictions can all contribute to an increased need for B12.
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#).
How much B12 is safe?
Though doses of up to 2,000 mcg of vitamin B12 are considered safe, it’s best to speak to a doctor to find out whether taking a supplement is necessary.
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 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.
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. ).
What Is B12?
B12 is a critical nutrient in the formation of red blood cells. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen throughout the body. Without enough — or properly formed — red blood cells, the body can't get the oxygen it needs. This results in a condition called anemia, which can cause fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite and depression.
What is the B12 nutrient?
B12 is a critical nutrient in the formation of red blood cells. Image Credit: foxline/RooM/GettyImages. Vitamin B12 supplements are popular among people who want to increase their energy level, endurance and sports performance. Even though the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for B12 is only 2.4 micrograms (mcg), ...
How much B12 is recommended daily?
Even though the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for B12 is only 2.4 micrograms (mcg), some supplements provide 10,000 mcg per serving, or 416, 666 percent of the RDA. That amount of B12 daily for a long time can have potentially serious effects. Video of the Day.
Why is B12 replaced?
It must be replaced through food or supplements each day to keep blood levels at a normal level. Because blood levels can't build up, there's low risk of toxicity. For this reason, the National Academy of Medicine did not establish an upper limit (UL) for B12, noting that no negative effects are associated with excess B12 from both food ...
Does B12 lower homocysteine?
High levels of homocysteine are associated with low B12 and increased risk of heart disease and cognitive decline. However, while a high dose of B12 does reduce homocysteine levels, it hasn't been shown to reduce the risk of heart attack or to improve cognitive function. Advertisement.
Do vegetarians need B12?
Getting Enough B12. B12 is primarily found in animal foods. Because of that, many vegetarians and vegans find it difficult to get enough of the vitamin from their diets, so supplementation may be necessary. The body's ability to absorb B12 also decreases with age, so older adults may need a B12 supplement.
Does B12 cause acne?
Excess B12 may also affect the skin, causing acne and rosacea, according to a 2015 review in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.
What is the aetiological profile of high serum cobalamin?
The aetiological profile of high serum cobalamin predominantly encompasses severe disease entities for which early diagnosis is critical for prognosis. These entities are essentially comprised of solid neoplasms, haematological malignancies and liver and kidney diseases.
Is hypercobalaminemia a deficiency?
Hypercobalaminemia (high serum vitamin B12 levels) is a frequent and underestimated anomaly. 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 vit …
