Blood test results show low in B12 & ... - Pernicious Anaemi...

Pernicious Anaemia Society

32,512 members23,810 posts

Blood test results show low in B12 & high in iron

Vickichapman1 profile image
9 Replies

My friend is on a course of B12 injections (at the moment every other day). His B12 is obviously low, but he has been told by his GP that his blood test show is iron is high, I'm confused, can anyone explain how this can be the case?

Many thanks

Written by
Vickichapman1 profile image
Vickichapman1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
9 Replies
ITYFIALMCTT profile image
ITYFIALMCTT

I'm not sure that I understand the enquiry.

Pernicious anaemia/B12 deficiency and iron anaemia can overlap but they don't always.

Vickichapman1 profile image
Vickichapman1 in reply to ITYFIALMCTT

Sorry, I'm new to this. Iron anaemia, means a person is lacking iron doesn't it? Well my friend iron level is high, not low. So basically I'm asking can you have B12 deficiency and a high iron level, I thought that was a contradiction.

ITYFIALMCTT profile image
ITYFIALMCTT in reply to Vickichapman1

No, it's not a contradiction. B12 can be known as Pernicious Anaemia (B12 deficiency isn't always due to pernicious anaemia but some people still call it this) but it's not related to iron anaemia.

That said, if people have gut absorption issues (could be a mass of reasons like Coeliac's Disease, H Pylori, particular medications) then they can have both.

But, no - it's not a contradiction. Does your friend have high but in range iron or is the level so high that it's above the usual reference range for blood levels so you're concerned about something else?

ETA: It is complex as a glance through the discussion in the comments of this post will reveal to you: healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

Vickichapman1 profile image
Vickichapman1 in reply to ITYFIALMCTT

I only know that his iron level is very high, he has been unwell for over a year now, no end of tests and nobody seemed to know what was wrong. The latest set of blood test results say he is B12 deficient and now three weeks later he has been started on a course of B12 injections, I believe it is every other day for a couple of weeks and then every three months! I don't have much information because he doesn't say much, but he suffers from severe fatigue, is very weak at times and complains that his body is hot but his legs and arms are very cold. He has had a lot of problems with headaches and eye problems, but of course any of these could be separate issues.

Thank you for taking time to reply, much appreciated.

ITYFIALMCTT profile image
ITYFIALMCTT in reply to Vickichapman1

Has your friend been investigated for familial haemochromatosis (useful to investigate when there are high serum iron levels)?

haemochromatosis.org.uk/hae...

Vickichapman1 profile image
Vickichapman1 in reply to ITYFIALMCTT

I wouldn't know but I will ask after I have read about it, thank you for the link.

fbirder profile image
fbirder

Whilst some conditions that cause low B12 can also cause low iron, it's not always the case. So it's perfectly possible to have one of them low and the other high.

Vickichapman1 profile image
Vickichapman1 in reply to fbirder

Thank you

Cankita profile image
Cankita

I have Haemochromatosis and B12 deficiency so my ferritin levels are always high unless i have venesections and my B12 levels were low for many years until I started B12 injections. Would be useful to know some actual levels as 'low' and 'high' are interpreted differently by different doctors and in different parts of the world.

Your friend may have Haemochromatosis but, much like B12 deficiency, many doctors are reluctant to test for it especially in England. Here in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland it is routinely tested as it is much more common than down south.

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Active b12 test & high b12 blood results....

Hi, I have been feeling very unwell for a few years now and backwards and forwards to the docs...

High B12 levels in a blood test

Hi All I am new here, My son is 10 and he has been struggling for few years with odd, what I can...

Blood test results show high ferritin

Blood test results show high ferritin but low Hg. 57 year peri menapausal, cough for 20 weeks...

Daughters blood test show very low B12 & Folate

Hi guys New here but sent over from the Thyroid UK group.Had private blood tests done for my 16...

Blood results show low B12 - what to do next

Hello, I'm new to this forum. I recently had private tests done as I suspected I may be...