Vitamin B12

[Katiekay69]

Does anyone know why my B12 is elevated to 2000, all the information that Im finding is leading back to leukemia. My dad died 4 weeks ago from leukemia and this has me worried can anyone help?

[mrsD]

B12 can be elevated from some disease states.

Leukemia is one. Other blood diseases also. A severe imbalance of organisms in the bowel, from using too many antibiotics may do it. Also some forms of kidney failure, show up with high B12.

Many foods are fortified now, including cereals. So read your labels to see if some is sneaking in that way.
Also if you are tested while taking vitamins containing B12 you may be elevated.

2000 is typically the highest reading in US because that is how high the machines are calibrated today at the labs.

I took a high dose supplement for 3 months daily 5mg of methylcobalamin and got a high reading like yours.

One long shot is if your B12 cannot convert to active form, methylB12 in the body, it may build up too. Another test called the MMA test will show if B12 is working in your system. It should test LOW to be normal. When B12 (and folate) are not converted by the body, this shows a genetic error called MTHFR polymorphism. There is a DNA blood test then to show if you have this problem. Taking methylfolate and methylcobalamin bypasses this error. People with this genetic mutation also have high homocysteine levels, which over time damages blood vessels leading to heart attack and strokes.

[Katiekay69]

Thanks for the information I am in the process of finding another family physician.

Originally Posted by mrsD

B12 can be elevated from some disease states.

Leukemia is one. Other blood diseases also. A severe imbalance of organisms in the bowel, from using too many antibiotics may do it. Also some forms of kidney failure, show up with high B12.

Many foods are fortified now, including cereals. So read your labels to see if some is sneaking in that way.
Also if you are tested while taking vitamins containing B12 you may be elevated.

2000 is typically the highest reading in US because that is how high the machines are calibrated today at the labs.

I took a high dose supplement for 3 months daily 5mg of methylcobalamin and got a high reading like yours.

One long shot is if your B12 cannot convert to active form, methylB12 in the body, it may build up too. Another test called the MMA test will show if B12 is working in your system. It should test LOW to be normal. When B12 (and folate) are not converted by the body, this shows a genetic error called MTHFR polymorphism. There is a DNA blood test then to show if you have this problem. Taking methylfolate and methylcobalamin bypasses this error. People with this genetic mutation also have high homocysteine levels, which over time damages blood vessels leading to heart attack and strokes.

[mrsD]

It is not easy to find a physician "up" on B12 and its finer points.

Here is a medical website to explain it more for you:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0301/p979.html

They don't go into what causes high B12 however on that link.

Many doctors don't know about methylcobalamin yet either.

This article explains a mechanical failure of the testing machines, when certain antibodies are present:
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc1201655
This gives unnaturally high levels of B12....and only in certain types
of patients.

You might want to be retested in a few months. Avoid supplements too.