Medication
While a necessary vitamin, excessive amounts of B12 can sometimes cause a few unwanted side effects. Although not all of these side effects occur, they may need medical attention in the event that they do. Abdominal or stomach pain Allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) Bleeding from the nose or gums Bluish lips and fingernails Chest pains
Self-care
“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.
Nutrition
The recommended daily intake of vitamin B12 is only 2.4 mcg for most adults. Pregnant or lactating women need 2.6 mcg and 2.8 mcg respectively. Although the recommended daily dosage for vitamin B12 may not sound much, vitamin B12 deficiency is pretty common! Up to 15% of the population fail to consume enough vitamin B12.
Specialist To Consult
Side effects requiring immediate medical attention
- Abdominal or stomach pain
- bleeding from the gums or nose
- blue lips and fingernails
- chest pain
- cough
- coughing that sometimes produces a pink frothy sputum
- decreased urine output
- difficult, fast, noisy breathing, sometimes with wheezing
- difficulty with swallowing
- dilated neck veins
Is too much vitamin B12 a health hazard?
What does it mean if your B12 is too high?
What is the recommended daily dosage of vitamin B12?
How can too much B12 affect you?
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What is normal vitamin B12 value?
Normal values are 160 to 950 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL), or 118 to 701 picomoles per liter (pmol/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different samples. Talk to your provider about what your specific test results mean.
What are the benefits of taking vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is a nutrient that helps keep your body's blood and nerve cells healthy and helps make DNA, the genetic material in all of your cells. Vitamin B12 also helps prevent megaloblastic anemia, a blood condition that makes people tired and weak.
What happens when your vitamin B12 is low?
Key points about vitamin B12 deficiency anemia Without enough red blood cells, your tissues and organs don't get enough oxygen. Without enough oxygen, your body can't work as well. Symptoms include weak muscles, numbness, trouble walking, nausea, weight loss, irritability, fatigue, and increased heart rate.
What level of B12 is dangerously low?
Patients with B12 levels between 200 and 300 pg/mL are considered borderline, and further enzymatic testing may be helpful in diagnosis. Patients with B12 levels below 200 pg/mL are considered deficient.
Which fruit is rich in vitamin B12?
Fruits like apples, bananas, blueberries and oranges are some fruits that are high in vitamin B12.
What food is highest in B12?
Good sources of vitamin B12meat.fish.milk.cheese.eggs.some fortified breakfast cereals.
How can I raise my B12 levels fast?
How to raise your B12 levels fast. The most common way to treat B12 deficiencies is by adjusting your diet. If this is unsuccessful, vitamin supplements may be recommended. If you're looking to boost the amount of vitamin B12 in your diet, you should eat more animal products, like meat, seafood, dairy and eggs.
What disease causes low B12?
Pernicious anaemia causes your immune system to attack the cells in your stomach that produce the intrinsic factor, which means your body is unable to absorb vitamin B12.
What are the signs of lack of B12?
Symptoms of vitamin B12 or folate deficiencyextreme tiredness.a lack of energy.pins and needles (paraesthesia)a sore and red tongue.mouth ulcers.muscle weakness.disturbed vision.psychological problems, which may include depression and confusion.More items...
Can low B12 cause stress?
As a B12 deficiency places more stress on your body, it causes your body to work harder just perform everyday tasks and reduces your ability to lose weight. By increasing your B12, you may be able to reduce anxiety and stress, making it easier for you to find an emotional stress release.
Does B12 deficiency cause weight gain?
People with vitamin B12 deficiency are likely to experience a wide range of symptoms, though weight gain is unlikely one of them.
What happens if I take B12 everyday?
High doses of vitamin B-12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause: Headache. Nausea and vomiting. Diarrhea.
Is it good to take vitamin B12 every day?
Vitamin B12 plays a key role in many aspects of health and may support bone health, red blood cell formation, energy levels, and mood. Eating a nutritious, well-rounded diet or taking a supplement can help ensure you're meeting your needs.
How soon does vitamin B12 start working?
It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. If you have hydroxocobalamin injections to boost your vitamin B12 levels at the start of treatment, the cyanocobalamin tablets may start to work within a few days.
Does B12 help with weight loss?
There's no solid proof that vitamin B-12 shots, also called injections, help you lose weight. Vitamin B-12 is a water-soluble B complex vitamin. It's found naturally in many foods, such as meat, fish and dairy products. Vitamin B-12 is added to some foods and is available as a dietary supplement.
What is the benefit of B12?
Vitamin B12 may benefit your body in impressive ways, such as by boosting your energy, improving your memory and helping prevent heart disease. Here are 9 health benefits of vitamin B12, all based on science. 1. Helps With Red Blood Cell Formation and Anemia Prevention. Share on Pinterest.
What is the best supplement for energy?
Vitamin B12 supplements have long been touted as the go-to product for a surge of energy.
What is the best vitamin for depression?
Studies support the use of vitamin B12 supplements for improving symptoms of depression in people deficient in this vitamin.
What is the role of vitamin B12 in bone health?
Vitamin B12 may play a vital role in your bone health. Low blood levels of this vitamin have been associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis.
Why is B12 deficiency bad?
Risk factors for vitamin B12 deficiency include a decreased ability to absorb this vitamin due to low hydrochloric acid secretion, certain medications or gastrointestinal disease and surgeries. Vegans are also at risk since B12 is only found in animal products.
What are the risks of vitamin B12 deficiency?
Those at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency include ( 1#N#Trusted Source#N#): 1 Older adults 2 People with gastrointestinal disorders, such as Crohn’s disease or celiac disease 3 Those who have had gastrointestinal surgeries, such as bariatric surgery or bowel resection surgery 4 People on a strict vegan diet 5 Those who take metformin for blood sugar control 6 Those taking proton pump inhibitors for chronic heartburn
How many people in the US have B12 deficiency?
An estimated 6% of people in the US and UK aged 60 or older have vitamin B12 deficiency, while about 20% have low to normal or borderline deficient levels ( 29 ).
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 does B12 do to MMA?
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.
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 if your UMMA is high?
However, if your uMMA levels are high, you probably have a B12 deficiency.
Why is MMA high in the urine?
That’s because the kidneys excrete the MMA in the urine. If they don’t function correctly, MMA may accumulate in your blood. Serum MMA levels may also be high in patients with thyroid disease or bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.
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 ...
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.
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.
