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What does it mean when your blood test shows High B12 Levels?
updated 2-15-2020

I've talked to many people who are
told by their medical doctor that they found high
levels of B12 in their blood test. They are thus
reluctant to take a B vitamin formula designed to help
build healthy nerves as it has B12 in it, or even just take a B supplement for their health.
In addition, it seems to be a big problem for a lot of people once their doctor tells them. They worry about what it could mean.
But, what
does this actually mean?
What other symptoms do you have?
High B12 levels in the blood can be
the result of liver disease, kidney failure and blood
cancers. There is also a condition where a person has
too many white blood cells that causes high vitamin
B12. These conditions, however, will all have other
symptoms other than this blood test result, and your
medical doctor will test if he suspects any of
these.*
What else can it mean?
Blood tests are done with venous blood. This is the blood that comes after digestion and all the other bodily functions. It is on its way to dispose of a lot of things. One of them is things the body does not need. B12 is water-soluble, so the body can easily get rid of the B12 if it has too much. It will be in the blood.
So, why the excess B12.
1) Do you take B12 supplements with artificial B12? Many vitamins are made in a laboratory with synthetic ingredients. The body doesn't recognize it as food and it will no doubt be elminated from the body via the blood.
2) Do you eat processed foods which is fortified with B12? Again synthitic ingredients that the body doesn't recognize as food that will be gotten rid of via the blood.
3) Taking just B12 and no other B vitamins. They work together. B12 needs B9 to be activated, and much more. Here's an article on nerve health which explains this.
These can cause high levels of B12 in the blood.
A deficency of Vitamin B12?
A deficiency of vitamin B12, or a low
B12 level, can contribute to a wide range of problems.
General symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can include
tiredness, weakness, abdominal pain, nausea,
constipation, flatulence, reduction in appetite, and
menstrual problems.
Extended periods of deficiency can
eventually result in degeneration of nerves as the
body needs it to build the myelin sheath (the outside of
the nerve). Those who suffer from a vitamin B12
deficiency can have tingling sensations numbness,
and burning feelings, weakness in the legs and
problems walking.
What happens when you have these
low B12 level symptoms but the blood tests
show high B12 levels?
Vitamin B12 does not accumulate to
toxic levels. Consuming large quantities does not
cause side effects or high levels in your system,
whether you get it through food or from taking
high-dose whole food B12 supplements.
What is another cause of blood tests showing high
amounts of B12?
High serum B12 can be caused by a "functional" B12 deficiency. What does that
mean?
In that condition, there is enough B12
going into the body, but the cells are not able to use
it properly. This results in the body putting the B12
back in the blood. It builds up there bound to
haptocorrin. Haptocorrin is a Vitamin B12 binding
protein.
What happens when the body is not able
to use the B12 at a cellular level?
High serum B12 per se is not harmful,
but it indicates that there may be an issue with B12
utilization
One reason for this is that B12 from
food and most supplements is the form cynocobalamine.
In order for the body to utilize it, it must be
converted to Methyl B 12 (or methylcobalamine). This
conversion happens in the gut. The
intrinsic factor is necessary for this
conversion. If a person doesn’t for any reason have
sufficient intrinsic factor, this will not take place
and the B12 will not be utilized.
Intrinsic factor: Intrinsic factor is a protein secreted by the stomach that joins vitamin B-12 in the stomach and escorts it through the small intestine to be absorbed by your bloodstream. Without intrinsic factor, vitamin B-12 can't be absorbed and leaves your body as waste.
Thus, high levels of B12 in a blood
test can be a "functional" B12 deficiency.
The intrinsic factor goes down with age, and thus as
we age we are less likely to be able to absorb the
B12 in our food and supplements.
For more information about a B12
Deficiency
If you have an actual functional B12
deficiency, it is important to supplement with Methyl
B12 which can be gotten from B12 shots or by
supplementing Methyl B12 which is like getting a B12
shot every day.
More on Blood Tests
Read: Why Your Blood Tests Keep Showing up Normal?
And: Will Your Blood Test Reveal Vitamin Deficiencies?
RECOMMENDED:
Sources of Methyl B12? There are many that can be found.
We recommend a natural B vitamins with other important things for your health. Check out
Benefits of Nutritional Yeast that Go Beyond B-Vitamins
Information about Dr. Berg's Nutritional Yeast
If you have any nerve system
problems we recommend the Nerve
Support Formula
Want to Build Health? We recommend Dr. Berg's Health Formulas
STILL
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*Study -
The pathophysiology of elevated vitamin B12 in clinical practice.
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