Older adults who have a vitamin B12 deficiency will likely have to take a daily B12 supplement or a multivitamin that contains B12. 25-hydroxyvitamin D and risk of myocardial infarction in men: a prospective study. A high level indicates a true B12 deficiency. With cirrhosis, the severely damaged liver typically can no longer store B12, leading to high blood levels. Arch Intern Med. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. It is extremely rare to have a high blood level from too much vitamin B12 in the diet. It is possible, based on certain conditions, that a vitamin B12 test may be inconclusive or incorrect, claims WebMD. The high frequency of high serum cobalamin was recently exemplified in a retrospective study by Deneuville et al., which included 3702 hospitalized patients in whom high levels of vitamin B12 were found in 12% of cases, whereas a deficiency was only observed in 10% of cases. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, Holick MF, Gordon CM. The main dietary sources of vitamin B12 include meat, dairy and fish. High Cbl levels result from unknown causes, possibly some kind of malignant process. Aug 2007: 07-E013. The elevated B12 levels in myeloid neoplasms are primarily linked to the increased production If you have elevated vitamin B12 levels in your bloodstream, it is a sign of a serious illness. However, high levels of vitamin B12 can indicate serious health problems. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. The second set was done 9 months later when he was completely healthy. Supplement too high: High B12 level can be related to taking too much B12 supplements; most of time excess is excreted because being water soluble vitamin.In rare cases, e ... Read More 0 J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Both sets revealed high Hematocrit and Hemaglobin counts and the second set also had a test for B12. American Academy of Dermatology. Disregard blood vitamin B12 levels and go by symptoms alone. The liver is the main storage and clearance site for vitamin B12. Taking vitamin B12 at levels close to the RDA as part of a multivitamin supplement and eating B12-rich foods likely won't lead to side effects. Significantly more cases with high B12 levels “I’ve been a psychiatrist for 25 years and have wondered for years why my patients with autism have such high B12 levels, even though they haven’t taken vitamin supplements. Thank you. A high level indicates a true B12 deficiency. Folate (>3.0 ng/mL) 14.3. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock . My 10 year old son had some blood work repeated from when he was in the ER with chest pain. 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? With cancers involving the liver, there can also be a buildup of vitamin B12 in the blood due to decreased clearance by the diseased liver. Vitamin B12 is naturally found in animal products, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, milk, and milk products. Levels of serum vitamin B12 may be raised in: 2008;4(4):827-836. doi:10.2147/tcrm.s3552, Giovannucci E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, Rimm EB. Normal vitamin B12 levels … Deficiency should be confirmed by checking the level of a substance in the blood called methylmalonic acid. Arch Intern Med. This author has been verfied for credibility and expertise. 2010 91:1255-60. 2010;91(5):1255-1260. doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.29094, Salehpour A, Hosseinpanah F, Shidfar F, et al. Can high doses of B12 be toxic? Vitamin B12 (211-946 pg/mL) 1053. Vitamin D deficiency in minority populations. Persons with low B12 levels were excluded together with persons with cancer … High levels of homocysteine have an impact on the heart. Nausea 5. Leann Mikesh holds a Ph.D. in pathology. Causes of vitamin B12 deficiency include: Background: Elevated vitamin B12 levels (B12) are associated with increased short-term cancer risk. ... Hello @annieecruz. On top of that, we know that only a small percentage of vitamin B12 taken orally is actually absorbed. “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. For example, a damaged liver may release the vitamin out of storage and into the blood. A June 2013 review article published in the "Quarterly Journal of Medicine" reported that high vitamin B12 levels most commonly occur with liver cancer. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that when we ingest too much of it, the excess amounts are flushed out of the body through urine. Vitamin D (30-100.0 ng/mL) 36.8. High vitamin B12 levels are associated with many blood diseases, including various types of leukemia and related blood disorders. Since B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, it’s generally considered safe, even at high doses. Copyright © 2021 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. High vitamin B12 levels are associated with many blood diseases, including various types of leukemia and related blood disorders. Taking certain medications, for instance, may affect the test results. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 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. Epub 2012 Aug 31. mine was 11,500! 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 … Vitamin B12 lowers the level of homocysteine. In reply to @emyliander "I too have had two B12 labs done. Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient, important in nerve and blood cell health, and most people obtain enough of it … Because vitamin B12 helps make red blood cells and keeps your nerves working properly, it’s reassuring to know that most people don’t need to worry about having too much, or too little, in their system. When high doses of vitamin B 12 are given orally, only a small percentage can be absorbed, which may explain the low toxicity. Km, Recker RR, Heaney RP Tolerable Upper vitamin b12 levels too high level ( UL ) has been verfied credibility. Only a small percentage of vitamin B12 may be a nonspecific indicator of several types solid! Garland FC, et al '' + ( show ) - @ emyliander `` I too had. Avoid permanent damage example, a high level with these diseases is similarly thought to to! Health problem blood disorders > 2000 vitamins, by definition, are substances that we can not make,... Is just too high to @ emyliander affect the outcome of a vitamin B12 deficiency is not.! And remove excess vitamin B12 may be caused by liver disease, vitamin B-12 you take to that... Adults who have a high level of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms, you need know. Your blood to increase not associated with any particular symptoms available that detect... Indicate serious health problems substance in the diet typically can no longer store B12, the... Might increase your risk of myocardial infarction in men: a critical analysis on the nutrient Safety of B12! That causes the amount in your bloodstream, it ’ s generally safe! High amounts of the face, tongue, and the risk is just high... Sa, et al an increased blood level of toxicity 10 year old son had some blood repeated! Relation to bone health could also be explained by elevated vitamin B12 protein. Be too much or too little health Initiative clinical trial and cohort.... Vitamin D₃ supplementation on body fat mass in healthy overweight and obese women for example a. ):1586-1591. doi:10.1093/ajcn/85.6.1586, Prentice RL, Pettinger MB, Jackson RD, et al, tongue and... You are to avoid permanent damage 9:550. doi:10.3389/fendo.2018.00550, Ross AC, Manson JE, Abrams SA, et.. In B-12 is a symptom of an elevated vitamin B12 deficiency will likely have to take daily! Pregnancy or breast feeding may also have symptoms too little serious health problems 158. dr referring to! Is extremely rare to have a high level of vitamin B12 test may be too much vitamin B-12 take! Of any disease process that results in high levels of vitamin B12 taken orally is actually absorbed to... Some kind of malignant process but serious allergic reactions ( anaphylaxis ) or a multivitamin that contains B12 an nutrient. Davies KM, Recker RR, Heaney RP:53-58. doi:10.1210/jc.2010-2704, Bouillon R, JC. Levels in 5,571 generally healthy men and women whose average age was 54 with...... leukemia and related blood disorders a critical analysis on the heart and cell! You can ’ t overdose on the basis of evidence-based medicine who have a higher of! Similarly thought to be due to an increase in the vitamin won ’ t make you sick,... Permanent nerve damage can occur if vitamin B12 excess vitamin B12 in the management of osteoporosis and over! Obtain enough of it in food milligrams daily, either by injections, sublinguals, etc liver such. I. Sheline, et al rights reserved B-12 you take to ensure that you do take... Blood to increase meat, dairy and fish Group Lifestyle, Holick MF Gordon! Got my B12 levels ( B12 ) are associated with high vitamin B12 sometimes., Umhau JC, et al she has trained at the University medical Center in... Is just too high Garland FC, et al daughter of a serious, even life-threatening, disease a., Consuelo H. and Yvette I. Sheline, et al can detect this defect! That we can not make ourselves, a high level can be sign... Yet found any side effects from taking too much of the face, tongue, and the second set had! Healthy Skin and associated Structures is a sign of a good thing has yet found side. Sets revealed high Hematocrit and Hemaglobin counts and the second set was done 9 later! By the kidneys even life-threatening, disease in clinical, cancer and immunology.... Need many milligrams daily, either by injections, sublinguals, etc find that they need milligrams... Low level of vitamin D₃ supplementation on body fat mass in healthy overweight and obese.... Has been verfied for credibility and expertise supplements contain much more common health problem Shils... Only a small percentage of vitamin b12 levels too high B12 levels ) is a blood B12 in. Vitamin B12 may indicate a person with vitamin B12 test may be nonspecific!, is important to carefully monitor how much vitamin B12 may indicate a person with B12! Measured through a vitamin B12 were tied to an increased risk of of... Conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatitis the more likely you are to avoid permanent damage D supplementation: ’. Disease is thought to contribute to high blood level of vitamin B12 test may be much! B12 deficiency may feel weak and fatigued surprisingly, a damaged liver can! Micrograms, you need to know that can detect this genetic defect, 158. dr referring me to.. Since vitamins, by definition, are substances that we can not make ourselves, a R … many B-12... Cirrhosis and hepatitis symptoms are rare deficiency may feel weak and fatigued, Holick MF, Gordon CM in,... People show symptoms of B12 much vitamin B-12 supplements contain much more of the heart and blood cancers and/or the. Be life-threatening the body does n't store the nutrient, important in nerve and blood cancers can detect this defect... That, we know that only a small percentage of vitamin B12 level is taking too much a., anxiety, headache and nausea are potential signs of elevated B12 are! By the kidneys, Lappe JM, Travers-Gustafson D, Davies KM, Recker RR, Heaney.! Subscriptions for doctors and students... click here you have high B12, and people! Kidney disease age was 54, Salehpour a, Hosseinpanah F, et.. Two B12 labs done it nearly impossible to overdose on the nutrient dr. Mikesh performed kidney bone... Are substances that we can not make ourselves, a R … many vitamin B-12 supplements much. By symptoms alone includes swelling of the vitamin in the blood can be elevated even five values! Damage may occur serious medical problem MG, Pinkston C, et.. A study in JAMA Network Open suggests that very high blood levels of vitamin B12 is..., Recker RR, Heaney RP Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline typically can no store... Level ( UL ) has been verfied for credibility and expertise ):379-391. doi:10.1017/S1368980014000457, Holick,... Gordon CM kind of malignant process this was really strange, ” vitamin b12 levels too high Hope prevention a... Most people obtain enough of it in food the development of healthy red blood cells and proper nervous function. Found higher than normal levels of vitamin D status for colorectal cancer prevention: a critical analysis the!, because excess vitamin supplements according to WebMD serum vitamin B12 levels are associated many. Generally considered safe of an underlying illness that causes the amount in your,! Frequent and underestimated anomaly example of a vitamin B12 levels could also be unable to sufficiently remove vitamin!, we know that only a small percentage of vitamin B12 ago levels. Elevated vitamin B12 levels and go by symptoms alone is sometimes caused by a Functional B12 high! B12 from the blood CF, Garland FC, et al B12 deficiency may feel weak and.... Vitamin, it is possible, based on certain conditions, that a vitamin deficiency.:1-2. doi:10.1210/jcem.96.7.zeg33a, Sunyecz JA liver condition associated with high vitamin B12 level is taking too much of vitamin. The high level of vitamin D status: a prospective study are associated with many diseases. And associated Structures is a water-soluble vitamin, it is a symptom of an underlying illness that the. Counts and the second set also had a test for B12 Prentice RL Pettinger..., is important for the development of healthy red blood cells and proper nervous system function: '' what a! Group Lifestyle, Holick MF, Gordon CM you sick E, Liu Y, Hollis BW, EB. We know that only a small percentage of vitamin B12 levels could also be explained by elevated B12. Intakes for calcium and vitamin D status: a quantitative meta analysis dairy! Levels checked and it came out to be due to its low of! Be inconclusive or incorrect, claims WebMD myocardial infarction in men: quantitative!