What happens if your B12 is too high?

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. Pregnant and breastfeeding women may also need to be especially mindful of B12 levels.

Should I be worried if my B12 is high?

Excess B12 is either stored in the liver, present in the blood without any adverse effects, or excreted. There are no studies investigating the potential clinical effects of high B12 because, in general, there are no known adverse effects caused by elevated B12.

What are symptoms of high B12 level?

What does it mean if your B12 is too high?

An abnormally high vitamin B-12 status can be an early sign of liver disease, diabetes, or certain types of leukemia. A doctor may use the results of a vitamin B-12 test to help form their diagnosis.

How can I reduce my B12 levels?

Research has suggested that the consumption of alcohol may reduce vitamin B12 levels. An older study indicated that moderate alcohol intake diminished vitamin B12 by 5% among “healthy, well-nourished, postmenopausal women.”

Is Too Much B12 Bad (Can You Take Too Much b12?)

How do I get my B12 back to normal?

The most common way to treat B12 deficiencies is by adjusting your diet. If this is unsuccessful, vitamin supplements may be recommended. If you're looking to boost the amount of vitamin B12 in your diet, you should eat more animal products, like meat, seafood, dairy and eggs.

How long does it take to get rid of excess B12?

Unlike most other vitamins, B12 is stored in substantial amounts, mainly in the liver, until it is needed by the body. If a person stops consuming the vitamin, the body's stores of this vitamin usually take about 3 to 5 years to exhaust.

What level of B12 is concerning?

Understanding the Results

But a normal level of vitamin B12 in your bloodstream is generally between 190 and 950 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). Between 200 to 300 pg/mL is considered borderline and your doctor may do more testing. Below 200 pg/mL is low and more testing is needed.

What cancers cause high B12?

Other studies focusing on specific cancers have shown a strong association between elevated B12 levels and liver cancers (OR 3.3 [95%CI: 1.1–10.4] for hepatocellular carcinomas and OR 4.7 [95%CI: 1.2–17.9] for other liver cancers) [16], a moderate association with prostate cancer (OR 1.1 [95%CI: 1.0–1.2]) [17], and no ...

What foods to avoid if B12 is high?

Reduce the amount of animal-derived foods that appear in your diet, as they contain vitamin B12. These include meat, poultry, dairy and shellfish.

Does high B12 mean liver damage?

Vitamin B₁₂ is stored primarily in the liver, and highly elevated serum vitamin B₁₂ levels occur in acute hepatitis and severe alcoholic liver disease.

Does high B12 mean diabetes?

Reportedly, patients with diabetes have higher serum vitamin B12 levels than those with normal glycemic control, and fructosamine levels are significantly correlated with serum vitamin B12 levels in patients with DM,⁸ which suggests that serum vitamin B12 levels may be associated with glycemic control in T2DM.

Can stress cause high B12 levels?

Stress is known to deplete our levels of B vitamins, especially vitamin B12. Vegetarians, vegans and those on restricted diets can struggle to get enough vitamin B12 to meet their body's needs.

What autoimmune diseases cause high B12 levels?

Significantly Elevated Vitamin B12 Levels in Autoimmune Lymphoproliferative Syndrome (ALPS), a Rare Lymphoproliferative Disorder with Apoptosis Defect | Blood | American Society of Hematology.

Does your body flush out extra B12?

The body will typically excrete excess vitamin B-12 that a person gets from the diet or via supplements. The body does not absorb vitamin B-12 supplements very effectively. This means that even if a person takes very high amounts of vitamin B-12, their body still does not absorb a significant amount.

Can B12 supplements cause high B12 levels?

However, in routine laboratory practice serum vitamin B12 (B12) levels are more often above than below normal. Supraphysiological serum B12 levels may result from high dose supplementation, more often, however, they are due to increased levels of the sequestered form of the vitamin.

What is normal level of vitamin B12 in elderly?

A serum vitamin B₁₂ level between 200 pg/mL and 900 pg/mL is considered normal, but a threshold of 300 to 350 pg/mL is recognized as a marker for a desirable status in the elderly.

What foods make your B12 high?

Do apples have a lot of B12?

Fruits like apples, bananas, blueberries and oranges are some fruits that are high in vitamin B12.

Are almonds high B12?

Nuts are a great source of plant-based protein, fibre, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals, which all help to boost the intake of essential nutrients in any diet – plant-based or animal-based. While they are not high in B12, they contain a whole spectrum of nutrients that help to optimise overall health and well-being.

What causes high B12 in elderly?

Elevated cobalamin levels often accompany diseases such as leukemia, myeloproliferative disorders, hypereosinophilic syndrome, and metastatic cancer—especially when involving the liver.

Can B12 cause neuropathy?

B12 deficiency may cause demyelination of nerves in the peripheral and central nervous system¹³ and has been associated with peripheral neuropathy, loss of sensation in peripheral nerves, and weakness in lower extremities in older adults^{1, 14–16}.

Does your body flush out extra B12?

The body will typically excrete excess vitamin B-12 that a person gets from the diet or via supplements. The body does not absorb vitamin B-12 supplements very effectively. This means that even if a person takes very high amounts of vitamin B-12, their body still does not absorb a significant amount.

Can you flush out B12?

Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that excess amounts are flushed out of the body through the urine, making a vitamin B12 overdose nearly impossible. However, while vitamin B12 is safe when used as recommended, there are several vitamin B12 injection side effects to consider as well.