Vitamin D deficiency in minority populations. 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 … While the recommended daily amount of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms, you can safely take higher doses. No Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) has been established for B12, due to its low level of toxicity. 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. 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. Wait too long, and permanent neurological damage may occur. One in the 1800s and one 1700s. If you have elevated vitamin B12 levels in your bloodstream, it is a sign of a serious illness. On top of that, we know that only a small percentage of vitamin B12 taken orally is actually absorbed. 2013 Jun;32(3):375-81. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2012.08.014. The cause of the high level with these diseases is similarly thought to be due to an increase in the vitamin B12 carrier protein. High vitamin B12 levels are not associated with any particular symptoms. Nausea 5. Copyright © 2021 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. Gorham ED, Garland CF, Garland FC, Grant WB, Mohr SB, Lipkin M, Newmark HL, Giovannucci E, Wei M, Holick MF. high or raised vitamin B12 FREE subscriptions for doctors and students... click here You have 3 open access pages. An increased blood level of vitamin B12 is sometimes caused by kidney disease, including diabetic kidney disease. Vitamin B-12 can cause very rare but serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis). High Cbl levels result from unknown causes, possibly some kind of malignant process. 2007 Mar;32(3):210-6. High levels of Vitamin B12 may be too much of a good thing. 2012 Sep 22;11:78. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-11-78. 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? The 2011 report on dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D from the Institute of Medicine: what clinicians need to know. One in the 1800s..." + (show)-@emyliander. 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. There is a low-cost blood test available that can detect this genetic defect. ... Hello @annieecruz. Health Effects of High Levels. Hematologic disorders like chronic myelogeneous leukemia, promyelocytic leukemia, polycythemia vera and also the hypereosinophilic syndrome can result in elevated levels of cobalamin. They have had several blood tests done. Dr. Mikesh performed kidney and bone marrow transplantation compatibility testing to put herself through graduate school. However, the implications for early cancer detection in primary care have not been assessed. My vitamin b12 Level is too high. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, Holick MF, Gordon CM. Which is very high. 2. Arch Intern Med. In reply to @emyliander "I too have had two B12 labs done. Vitamin B12 (211-946 pg/mL) 1053. Not surprisingly, a r … When taken at appropriate doses, vitamin B-12 supplements are generally considered safe. Both sets revealed high Hematocrit and Hemaglobin counts and the second set also had a test for B12. The most obvious cause of an elevated vitamin B12 level is taking too much of the vitamin in the form of supplements. Folate (>3.0 ng/mL) 14.3. Taking certain medications, for instance, may affect the test results. 2015;18(3):379-391. doi:10.1017/S1368980014000457, Holick MF, Binkley NC, Bischoff-Ferrari HA, et al. Front Endocrinol. Permanent nerve damage can occur if vitamin B12 deficiency is not treated. Cardiovascular Health. Arch Intern Med. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient, important in nerve and blood cell health, and most people obtain enough of it in food. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Heaney, Robert P. “The Vitamin D Requirement in Health and Disease.” The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology 97 (2005):13-9. Vitamin B12 levels are measured through a vitamin B12 level blood test, also referred to as a cobalamin test, according to MedlinePlus. 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. High B12 levels in the blood can be the result of liver disease, kidney failure and blood cancers. None were taking supplements. Am J Prev Med. With alcoholic liver disease, vitamin B12 as well as its carrier proteins can be elevated. Older adults with a vitamin B12 level less than 100 pg/mL (74 pmol/L) may also have symptoms. Optimal vitamin D status: a critical analysis on the basis of evidence-based medicine. 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. Dizziness 2. I thought this was really strange,” says Hope. While doctors are often more concerned with low vitamin B12 levels, high levels might also signal a serious medical problem. 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. High levels of homocysteine have an impact on the heart. 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. Vitamin D. In: Shils M, Olson J, Shike M, Ross AC, ed. Can high doses of B12 be toxic? Background: Elevated vitamin B12 levels (B12) are associated with increased short-term cancer risk. High vitamin B12 means levels are higher than 1,500 picograms per milliliter. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 9th ed. However, high levels of vitamin B12 can indicate serious health problems. Headache 3. 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 My 10 year old son had some blood work repeated from when he was in the ER with chest pain. Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency include: Many vitamin B-12 supplements contain much more of the vitamin than the body needs. If you have elevated vitamin B12 levels in your bloodstream, it is a sign of a serious illness. Causes of High Blood Levels of Vitamin B12 Excess Vitamin Supplements. 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. Vitamin B12 (211-946 pg/mL) 1053. Those with B12 deficiency, or an inability to absorb it, can use supplements. Some people with various conditions find that they need many milligrams daily, either by injections, sublinguals, etc. 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. A person with vitamin B12 deficiency may feel weak and fatigued. 2007;32(3):210-216. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2006.11.004, Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, Recker RR, Heaney RP. Vitamin B12 is considered to be very safe. 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. Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. For example, a damaged liver may release the vitamin out of storage and into the blood. Since vitamins, by definition, are substances that we cannot make ourselves, a high level can only come from high intake. She has trained at the University of Virginia Medical Laboratories and has over 15 years experience in clinical, cancer and immunology research. 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. No research has yet found any side effects from taking too much vitamin B-12. Taking certain medications, for instance, may affect the test results. High levels of Vitamin B12 may be too much of a good thing. 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. The liver might also be unable to sufficiently remove enough vitamin B12 or its carrier protein from the blood. 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. High vitamin B12 is a symptom of an underlying illness that causes the amount in your blood to increase. Health risks and benefits from calcium and vitamin D supplementation: Women’s Health Initiative clinical trial and cohort study. Because the body doesn't store the nutrient, high B12 symptoms are rare. Aug 2007: 07-E013. A high level of vitamin B12 in the blood can be caused by liver disease or myeloproliferative disorders, according to MedlinePlus. And shouldn't I have a higher level of Vitamin D? 2009; 169:384-90. 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. Am J Clin Nutr. The liver is the main storage and clearance site for vitamin B12. American Academy of Dermatology. 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. A high level indicates a true B12 deficiency. High vitamin B12 means levels are higher than 1,500 picograms per milliliter. A June 2013 review article published in the "Quarterly Journal of Medicine" reported that high vitamin B12 levels most commonly occur with liver cancer. This author has been verfied for credibility and expertise. 2010;91(5):1255-1260. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.29094, Salehpour A, Hosseinpanah F, Shidfar F, et al. I would love to hear from you. Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins, 1999. 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? Vitamin B12 is not very tox ... Read More. But a study in JAMA Network Open suggests that very high blood levels of vitamin B12 may be life-threatening. 2011;96(7):1911-1930. doi:10.1210/jc.2011-0385. Disregard blood vitamin B12 levels and go by symptoms alone. 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. 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. High levels of Vitamin B12 may be too much of a good thing. Clin Nutr. Persons with low B12 levels were excluded together with persons with cancer … 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. 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 (30-100.0 ng/mL) 36.8. (max is 900). 2012;11:78. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-11-78, Carrillo AE, Flynn MG, Pinkston C, et al. 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. Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, Rimm EB. 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. 2008;168(11):1174-1180. doi:10.1001/archinte.168.11.1174, Gorham ED, Garland CF, Garland FC, et al. Vomiting Clin Nutr. Dizziness, anxiety, headache and nausea are potential signs of elevated B12 levels. 2013;98(8):E1283-E1304. My 10 year old son had some blood work repeated from when he was in the ER with chest pain. Healthy Skin And Associated Structures Folate (>3.0 ng/mL) 14.3. Thank you. 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]. 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? 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]. 2011;96(7):1-2. doi:10.1210/jcem.96.7.zeg33a, Sunyecz JA. 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. Deficiency should be confirmed by checking the level of a substance in the blood called methylmalonic acid. 2008; 168:1174-80. “High amounts of vitamin B12 are often taken without a medical indication,” said the senior author, Dr. Stephan J.L. Learn more here. 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). High blood B12 levels can occur in liver conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. Optimal Vitamin D Status for Colorectal Cancer Prevention: a Quantitative Meta-analysis. Are often taken without a medical indication, ” said the senior author dr.! Was 54 dietary sources of vitamin B12 level is taking too much a., Bischoff-Ferrari HA, et al affects from taking too much or too little leukemia polycythemia. Mikesh performed kidney and bone marrow transplantation compatibility testing to put herself through graduate school 3:375-81.... 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