High MCV Doesn't Respond to Anything?

[SaraPellegrino]

Hi Everyone, I am brand new to the forum. For 20 years (maybe a whole lifetime) I've had a high MCV of around 103. I have a multitude of symptoms which I call Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Most conventional docs have said this was close to range and not a problem, but given my symptoms seems like it might be kinda a big problem, no? Especially what with most people not even reaching a high MCV and still having b-12 issues. I'd read that such a value is typically only found among alcoholics and I don't drink any alcohol. Also I have a family history of pernicious anemia. Maybe even on both sides of the family, but definitely my dad who responded well to injections. Docs did not comment on this further or test further.

Alternative docs have prescribed me b-12, b-6 and folate (5mthf) supplements. I've probably been on some form of b-vitamins most of my illness, but they haven't brought it down. I had one series of 4 nutrient IV's (Myers cocktail) about once a week for a month. That made my b-12 serum above range at >2000 pg/mL. This test was done 2 weeks after the last IV. (Is this unusual or normal with supplementation??). After 5 months it went back down to 735. This didn't affect the MCV, but then I'm not sure if it would since I've read it takes 4 months for turnover of the red blood cells and I only did it for one month.

Medical records show that in 2011 I received B vitamin injections with 1mg hydroxycobalamin, 100mg B6, 250mg B5, and 100mg B-complex (that was once a week for a a few months). Later on I did twice per week home injections of 5 mg methyl B12, 50 mg B6, and 150 mg glutathione (That was also for a few months). So between these two I was probably getting B injections for about 4 months and taking oral b-complex at the same time. There were no symptomatic changes or MCV changes in regard to this. Do you think I needed more frequent injections?

As far as other values I've had tested (let me know if anything seems suspicious):

Serum Folate: 9.3 ng/mL (reference range >3.0)

Ferritin: 82 ng/mL

Homocysteine: 8.0 umol/L (before supplementation with b12, folate, and b6)

After supplementation: 5.8 umol/L (No change in MCV)

Intrinsic factor antibody test was negative but I can't remember if I had recently supplemented before taking it.

Compound heterozygous MTHFR mutations

I have had MMA come up normal on an organic acids tests two times and low one times, and b 6 markers come up low three times. But these are functional lab tests, not the normal ones.

Soooo....Do you think I have a b12 deficiency? Or do you think my high MCV could be totally some other reason? If I were to run all the tests again how long would I want to be clean of supplements before doing it? Is urinary MMA as good as blood MMA?

[Gambit62 Administrator]

if you have had IV B12 then serum B12 will be very high and then fall over time - how quickly varies from person to person.

If you didn't notice any improvement in general symptoms from the IV then there is probably something else going on.

Normal ranges are based on averages so it may just be that you are one of the outliers if your MCV has always been that high.