What is a normal B12 level in blood?
What is a normal B12 level in blood?
Normal values are 160 to 950 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL), or 118 to 701 picomoles per liter (pmol/L).
What do B12 levels indicate?
Both high and low levels of vitamin B-12 may indicate an underlying problem. Low levels of B-12 can suggest anemia, an internal parasite, and hyperthyroidism. High levels of B-12 may increase your risk for cancer, according to Medical Daily.
What is considered severe B12 deficiency?
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.
What is B12 called on blood test results?
Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is found in foods from animals, such as red meat, fish, poultry, milk, yogurt, and eggs. Folate (Vitamin B9) refers to a natural occurring form of the vitamin, whereas folic acid refers to the supplement added to foods and drinks.
Can Vitamin B12 damage your liver?
The common forms of vitamin B include vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B6 (pyridoxine) and B12 (cyanocobalamin). Except for niacin (when given in high doses), there is no evidence that the other B vitamins, in physiologic or even super-physiologic high doses cause liver injury or jaundice.
Can vitamin B12 damage your liver?
Should you take vitamin B12 everyday?
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. High doses of vitamin B-12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause: Headache.
How do you lower B12 levels in blood?
You can change your diet to include vitamin B12-fortified grains, a supplement or B12 injections, or a high-dose oral vitamin B12 if you are deficient. Older adults who have a vitamin B12 deficiency will likely have to take a daily B12 supplement or a multivitamin that contains B12.
What’s the normal vitamin B12 level in the blood?
Looking to see if your vitamin B12 levels are normal? Keep in mind that B12 blood level tests don’t tell us nearly as much as people think they do. Here’s why: 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.
What causes high B12 levels in the 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.
How can I find out if I have a vitamin B-12 deficiency?
What is a vitamin B-12 deficiency? Vitamin B-12 is an important vitamin for many bodily functions, such as brain health, blood cell production, and proper nerve functioning. There are several ways to test your B-12 levels. You can get your blood drawn or take a home urine test. These tests will look at the levels of your:
How old do you have to be to have a vitamin B 12 test?
It occurs when your intestines can’t absorb vitamin B-12, which is necessary for red blood cell production. Symptoms are not often seen in people younger than 30 years old. The average age of diagnosis is 60. Symptoms of this condition include: Your doctor might also test your vitamin B-12 levels if you have high serum folate levels.
What does high B12 blood levels really mean?
High blood B12 levels can occur in liver conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. Alcoholic liver disease is an example of a liver condition associated with high vitamin B12 . With alcoholic liver disease, vitamin B12 as well as its carrier proteins can be elevated.
Why would I have high B12 levels in my blood?
An increased blood level of vitamin B12 is sometimes caused by kidney disease, including diabetic kidney disease. High vitamin B12 levels could also be explained by elevated vitamin B12 binding protein levels that are not filtered properly by the kidneys.
What happens when B12 is too high?
It is, however, important to note that too much B12 may cause issues in certain cases. In some people, high levels of B12 may cause gastrointestinal problems such as bloating and diarrhea. And if you have high blood pressure or poor cardiovascular health, having too much B12 may further complicate these issues.
What medical conditions cause high B12 levels?
High vitamin B12 in the bloodstream is associated with serious diseases. Medical conditions that can increase levels of vitamin B12 include liver disease, kidney failure and a group of blood cancers known as myeloproliferative disorders, which includes myelocytic leukemia and a condition that causes an overgrowth…