Why do I have high B12 when I'm not supplementing?

[Naz67]

Hi guys, I'm new here.

Was advised by my thyroid group to ask this question here.

B12 1107. (197-771)

Was wondering why my B12 is high when I'm not supplementing...

I am hypothyroid and in 100mg Levothyroxine.

I've read a few things in the Internet and getting worried. Hope u can help, thank you.

[fbirder]

See a doctor.

As you say, some of the possible causes are worrying. Others aren't. The only way to be sure is to ask an expert.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Naz67 I'm not medically qualified but my first thought is for you not to get overly worried about your high level of B12.

High levels of Vitamin B12 is not dangerous and any excess to what your body needs is excreted via your urine.

Do you know if your Folate level was tested at the same time and if so what was it?

Is your diet high in meats, fish, poultry and dairy products because those kinds of food are the only "natural" way of getting B12?

I'm sure there are others on here who will be able to give you good advice.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to clivealive]

high levels of themselves aren't dangerous but high levels can be sign that something else is going on, eg problems with kidneys or liver. As fbirder says the thing to do is to speak to GP so that possible causes can be ruled out.

The good news is that using B12 as an indicator could be a way of catching anything nasty very early on and dealing with it before it really becomes a problem.

This article - few years old now - suggested using high B12 as a way of monitoring for some problems.

qjmed.oxfordjournals.org/co...

Note: the article isn't arguing that high B12 is dangerous - just that it could usefully be used to catch some conditions early.

[Naz67 in reply to Gambit62]

Gambit62 thank you.

[Naz67 in reply to clivealive]

Thank you clivealive

Blood test results 5 weeks ago

Vitamin D 92 (50 - 144)

Ferritin. 25 (15 - 150)

Folate. 12.5 (3.8 - 16)

I have eggs every day and salmon quite often. I'm gluten and dairy free.

Is my folate level ok?

Thank you.

[PAS-admin Partner]

1107 (or 808 pmol) is not sooo high. If I remember correctly above 1000 pmol (or it could be 1200) is reason for further investigation. You might also been getting extra B12 without knowing it like some cereals have it added, grain/nut-milks, vegan products etc etc. Just have a think if anything applies, and you could always ask to retest if you are worried but most likely you are just one of those people that absorbs it well.