Vit B12 high

[Irldino]

Just got a full blood count done. Vit B12 is high at 894. Last full blood count 12 months ago it was also high at 862. Has anyone else encountered this?

[bowler]

You are within limits, [ approx. 200 - 900 ] your obviously not taking any iron supplements ?

I was borderline low B12 deficient [ 216 ] but after taking supplements it shot up to over 2000

[paddyfields in reply to bowler]

Can you say what supplements please

[bowler in reply to paddyfields]

Hello paddyfields

I was recommended to take by the " b12d" site 5mgs a day of Swansons ultra Methylcobalamin b12 " sublinguals" [ they dissolve under the tongue and better for the gut ] I could only get them from Amazon.

However I would advise that you have an iron blood test before taking any supplements.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

As bowler says, if that is pg/ml those are within range - 200-900 has been regarded as OK, with 200 really being borderline deficient. Some countries have increased the optimum range which would make your values perfectly normal rather than at the high end.

If it really is high because their units are different then they should be investigating.

[Irldino in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro and bowler. It is pg/ml so all is ok. Hadn't seen my doc. Got the results from the receptionist and B12 was marked H. Thank you both. I was concerned as I don't eat red meat and eat primarily fish and veg so didn't understand how it could be high

The same print out says vit D is adequate at 50 and I know now from the forum that it should be at least 75. Hurray for the forum.

[HeronNS in reply to Irldino]

This sort of confusion is why it's good that in my GPs practice they don't give out any test results over the phone - you have to make an appointment to see doctor. You do get a proactive call if results require follow-up.

[bowler in reply to PMRpro]

I seem to think that the minimum level in China s 500 perhaps because they eat more fish than meat ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to bowler]

A study in China found that the average vit B12 level was about 260 pg/ml in the urban areas further south and 214 in the rural north. Low but not excessively so.

[Cemmein]

I was getting eyesight problems & dementia & when I had full blood count my B12 levels were normal. But when the haemotologist did a further specialised blood test she discovered that my RBCs were immature rather like in "pernicious anaemia" & immedisletly put me on a fortnight's injections of hydroxycobalamine every other day. The effect was like magic! After a fotrtnight I could see well enough to drive again and my brain fog cleared & memory improved & went back to normal! I now need the injections once a fortnight to keep things OK.

[bowler]

I feel everyone who takes steroids should have an iron blood test,

The healthunlocked PAS site " Pernicious anaemia" is well worth looking at for any questions re anaemia,

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to bowler]

One of the things that should be done in the first approach to making the differential diagnosis is a full blood count - which should indicate abnormalities and then what is called a "differential count" should be done looking closely under a microscope at the various white and red cells that can be present.

Anaemia is a common accompaniment to autoimmune disorders of all sorts. And then it should be checked every 6 months at least. Pernicious anaemia is less common though so it isn't necessarily that if you are anaemic.

[Irldino]

One of the things that concerned my doctor in the early months of my PMR journey was that my haemoglobin was dropping from blood test to blood test. This has now steadied and has increased so all is well there. Something for everyone to keep an eye on

[Megams]

My B12 injections were recommended as I had no appetite when initial diagnosis of PMR made - I was terribly pale complexion wise too.

B12 injections put a tiger in my tank though to speak and haven't had one for 2 months due to the reading being high.

Told by my alternative GP that its OK if its high and as PMRpro mentions there are differing guidelines from country to country as to acceptable levels.

Not had my iron checked though, not a red meat eater either and back to looking ghostly.

Maybe time for another jab.

Good luck

[HeronNS]

Never heard of blood tests for B12 before. Is my understanding correct - that if you have iron deficiency which does not improve with supplements or gets worse you should have a B12 test run?

[bowler in reply to HeronNS]

I understand that if you are being tested for anaemia a B12 test would/should also be done at the same time ? my B12 was tested as I was showing symptoms of deficiency,

[HeronNS in reply to bowler]

Maybe she did. One of the tests on the paper was some sort of full profile thing, no details.... The issues she discussed with me were low ferritin and moderately high sugar.

[Irldino]

My doctor just automatically includes B12 with the full range of tests that she orders . My iron etc is fine.