1. < Blood Cancers & Disorders

High Levels of Vitamin B12 and Ferritin: Any pointers?

Posted by cocoa @annieecruz, Apr 29, 2018

What type of doctor handles test like the MMA Urine test and the HoloTC? Test related to how your body breaks down/absorbs and transport/bonds B12? My B12 test came back extremely abnormal.

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kathl | @kathl | Aug 6, 2022

Per MayoClinicLabs
Vitamin B12 Assay, Serum
Many other conditions are known to cause an increase in the serum vitamin B12 concentration and should be considered in the interpretation of the assay results, including:
Increased serum vitamin B12
Ingestion of vitamin C
Ingestion of estrogens
Ingestion of vitamin A
Hepatocellular injury
Myeloproliferative disorder
Uremia

Per UCSFHealth
Vitamin B12 level
An increased vitamin B12 level is uncommon. Usually, excess vitamin B12 is removed in the urine.
Conditions that can increase B12 level include:

Liver disease (such as cirrhosis or hepatitis)
Myeloproliferative disorders (for example, polycythemia vera and chronic myelogenous leukemia)

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 11, 2022
In reply to @kathl "Per MayoClinicLabs Vitamin B12 Assay, Serum Many other conditions are known to cause an increase in..." + (show)
@kathl

Per MayoClinicLabs
Vitamin B12 Assay, Serum
Many other conditions are known to cause an increase in the serum vitamin B12 concentration and should be considered in the interpretation of the assay results, including:
Increased serum vitamin B12
Ingestion of vitamin C
Ingestion of estrogens
Ingestion of vitamin A
Hepatocellular injury
Myeloproliferative disorder
Uremia

Per UCSFHealth
Vitamin B12 level
An increased vitamin B12 level is uncommon. Usually, excess vitamin B12 is removed in the urine.
Conditions that can increase B12 level include:

Liver disease (such as cirrhosis or hepatitis)
Myeloproliferative disorders (for example, polycythemia vera and chronic myelogenous leukemia)

Jump to this post

Welcome @kathl, I noticed that you wished to post a URL to the helpful info from Mayo Clinic Labs with your post. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Clearly the link you wanted to post is not spam. Please allow me to post it for you.

- Vitamin B12 Assay, Serum https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/Overview/9154#Clinical-and-Interpretive

Do you have experience with abnormal vitamin B12 levels?

REPLY
1 reply
sherry1971 | @sherry1971 | Aug 12, 2022
In reply to @colleenyoung "Welcome @kathl, I noticed that you wished to post a URL to the helpful info from..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Welcome @kathl, I noticed that you wished to post a URL to the helpful info from Mayo Clinic Labs with your post. You will be able to add URLs to your posts in a few days. There is a brief period where new members can't post links. We do this to deter spammers and keep the community safe. Clearly the link you wanted to post is not spam. Please allow me to post it for you.

- Vitamin B12 Assay, Serum https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/test-catalog/Overview/9154#Clinical-and-Interpretive

Do you have experience with abnormal vitamin B12 levels?

Jump to this post

Yes

REPLY
1 reply
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 19, 2022
In reply to @sherry1971 "Yes" + (show)
@sherry1971

Yes

Jump to this post

Hi Sherry, welcome. What is your experience with abnormal vitamin b12 levels? What is being done about it?

REPLY
rubyjag3 | @rubyjag3 | Sep 22, 2022

I posted about this a month or so ago but have had no luck getting any information. My B12 has been elevated for a couple of years (no, I don't take any supplements). Last October it was a little over 4000, now it is a little over 6000. All other blood work is good. The development that has me worried is excruciating lower back pain. I thought it was muscular or maybe I had irritated my arthritis but this feels more like an organ than bone or muscle. So far, doctors have dismissed the B12 numbers as "nothing to be worried about" help!

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Sep 22, 2022
In reply to @rubyjag3 "Hi, For the past few years, my B12 has been VERY high (over 6000) yes, THOUSAND...." + (show)
@rubyjag3

Hi, For the past few years, my B12 has been VERY high (over 6000) yes, THOUSAND. No one has been able to figure out why and I've been told repeatedly that it's harmless. In my most recent blood work, my transferrin was low, as well as continued high B12. I don't take medications or supplements of any kind. I also eat a low-carb, high-protein diet. I'm a 52yo female, my cholesterol is slightly elevated and I have some arthritis in my lower spine. Any thoughts? Should I be concerned? The physical discomfort I have is joint pain (everywhere) and lower back pain. No digestive issues. Thank you.

Jump to this post

Hi @rubyjag3 As you can see you’re not alone in your concern over the very high Vitamin B-12 level in your blood tests and wondering what can be done. There is no indicated toxic level if someone is taking the vitamin in a supplement.
However, from my understanding, if there’s a significant excess of B-12 in the blood with no supplements it can be a sign of
low B-12 with what’s actually being used by the body. This can sometimes be caused by underlying conditions which interfere with how well it can be processed and absorbed. Anything in excess is waste and not being used, so it floats freely in the blood and is indicated by that high level.
There are some specific tests that can be done to see how well your body breaks down/absorbs and transport/bonds to Vitamin B-12.
Did any of this increase with your higher protein diet?
You said all of your other bloodwork came back normal. Did this include a kidney and liver panel?

REPLY
3 replies
rubyjag3 | @rubyjag3 | Sep 22, 2022
In reply to @loribmt "Hi @rubyjag3 As you can see you’re not alone in your concern over the very high..." + (show)
@loribmt

Hi @rubyjag3 As you can see you’re not alone in your concern over the very high Vitamin B-12 level in your blood tests and wondering what can be done. There is no indicated toxic level if someone is taking the vitamin in a supplement.
However, from my understanding, if there’s a significant excess of B-12 in the blood with no supplements it can be a sign of
low B-12 with what’s actually being used by the body. This can sometimes be caused by underlying conditions which interfere with how well it can be processed and absorbed. Anything in excess is waste and not being used, so it floats freely in the blood and is indicated by that high level.
There are some specific tests that can be done to see how well your body breaks down/absorbs and transport/bonds to Vitamin B-12.
Did any of this increase with your higher protein diet?
You said all of your other bloodwork came back normal. Did this include a kidney and liver panel?

Jump to this post

Thank you......yes, (from 4000-6000 in the last 11 months) I have been focusing on increasing protein since January. How does that relate to the increase in B12?
This blood work was 8/5/22
ALT:12
AST:17
ALP:63
Albumin:4.4
Total protein: 7.8
Total bilirubin: .3
GFR: >90

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Sep 22, 2022
In reply to @rubyjag3 "Thank you......yes, (from 4000-6000 in the last 11 months) I have been focusing on increasing protein..." + (show)
@rubyjag3

Thank you......yes, (from 4000-6000 in the last 11 months) I have been focusing on increasing protein since January. How does that relate to the increase in B12?
This blood work was 8/5/22
ALT:12
AST:17
ALP:63
Albumin:4.4
Total protein: 7.8
Total bilirubin: .3
GFR: >90

Jump to this post

Looking at your lab numbers, they are nicely all in the normal range, even the GFR. I only asked about the protein in case there was any correlation with your kidney function but your numbers don’t reflect that. And I know you’re concerned that this high B-12 number is related to your back pain. If there was kidney involvement that might also be shown in blood work but again that’s all normalcy An ultrasound of your kidneys would show possible kidney stones.
Have you specifically asked about the back pain? Have you had MRI or CT scan of your back to rule out any disc involvement?

REPLY
rubyjag3 | @rubyjag3 | Oct 3, 2022
In reply to @loribmt "Hi @rubyjag3 As you can see you’re not alone in your concern over the very high..." + (show)
@loribmt

Hi @rubyjag3 As you can see you’re not alone in your concern over the very high Vitamin B-12 level in your blood tests and wondering what can be done. There is no indicated toxic level if someone is taking the vitamin in a supplement.
However, from my understanding, if there’s a significant excess of B-12 in the blood with no supplements it can be a sign of
low B-12 with what’s actually being used by the body. This can sometimes be caused by underlying conditions which interfere with how well it can be processed and absorbed. Anything in excess is waste and not being used, so it floats freely in the blood and is indicated by that high level.
There are some specific tests that can be done to see how well your body breaks down/absorbs and transport/bonds to Vitamin B-12.
Did any of this increase with your higher protein diet?
You said all of your other bloodwork came back normal. Did this include a kidney and liver panel?

Jump to this post

Thank you for your response. It is true that I do not take any supplements or any medication at all. All my other blood work was "normal". However, I had an appointment last Friday and asked that it be checked again. I received the results over the weekend and my B12 has increased from 6066 on 8/5/22 to 7345 on 9/30/22. I have been feeling awful for about 3 weeks. Fatigue, dizziness, blurred vision late in the day, very dry eyes, headaches, confusion, and back pain (upper mid) I had an EKG on Friday as well to rule out a heart attack (all good). I don't know where to go from here.

REPLY
dougs | @dougs | Oct 3, 2022
In reply to @loribmt "Hi @rubyjag3 As you can see you’re not alone in your concern over the very high..." + (show)
@loribmt

Hi @rubyjag3 As you can see you’re not alone in your concern over the very high Vitamin B-12 level in your blood tests and wondering what can be done. There is no indicated toxic level if someone is taking the vitamin in a supplement.
However, from my understanding, if there’s a significant excess of B-12 in the blood with no supplements it can be a sign of
low B-12 with what’s actually being used by the body. This can sometimes be caused by underlying conditions which interfere with how well it can be processed and absorbed. Anything in excess is waste and not being used, so it floats freely in the blood and is indicated by that high level.
There are some specific tests that can be done to see how well your body breaks down/absorbs and transport/bonds to Vitamin B-12.
Did any of this increase with your higher protein diet?
You said all of your other bloodwork came back normal. Did this include a kidney and liver panel?

Jump to this post

You mentioned that there are specific test to see how well your body breaks down/absorbs B12, what are those test? My B12 was 1663 in March and is over 2000 now, (test doesn't say how much over 2000). Primary said its probably autoimmune related, autoimmune doctor says no. Yearly blood work came back normal for most part , Immature Grans, Absolute a little high and MCHC a little low. Not taking any supplements. Kind of at a loss.

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