Any ideas please why I have High or Over Range B12 Results, despite only taking 10 ug B12 a day?

Hi All

Still looking for an answer for muscle aches! I've come to the B12 forum, after a kind member suggested my B12 numbers may be too high, considering I only take 10 ug B12 a day

My last 4 Active B12 Medichecks readings (roughly every 3 months starting from Feb 19) are

Feb 19 - 200

May 19 - 195

Aug 19 - 235

Jan 20 - 150

Ranges are the same for all the above - (37.5 - 187.5)

All achieved with 10 ug B12, which I have been taking for over 30 years now

My Medichecks liver and kidney results have always been in range

I have just read that it is only the active B12 that can enter the cells?

However, is it possible that, in some people with a high in range Actiive B12, there is a chance that it is NOT going to where it is needed?

And the kind forum member who pointed this out, said B12 Injections/Sublinguals helped her with fatigue, muscle aches and fogginess

I was very pleased to hear that.

All views greatly appreciated!

Thank you

Alps Holiday

[Clarrisa]

Do you also take vitamin C? I once took vitamin C the day before my B-12 level was drawn & the lab came back way over normal value. My doctor repeated the lab just a day or two later (off vitamin C) & the B-12 lab value was about half the earlier reading. It dropped way down into normal range. I normally do not take vitamin C, it had been a one time dose. These labs were drawn at the Mayo Clinic so a lab error seems highly unlikely.

[Hidden in reply to Clarrisa]

Thank you Clarissa for pointing out the connection between Vit C and blood testing of B12

No I don't take Vit C tablets

Just lots of fruit and veg

Thanks

Alps

[Marz]

Whilst supplementing B12 your blood test result will be skewed and it explains in the Guidelines for Cobalamin and Folate Deficiency that further testing is of little value.

Yes the 'Active' test indicates the amount of B12 available to transfer to to the cells - where it is needed and you have plenty. You could stop your B12 and see how you feel. Do you take Folate/B9/Folic Acid with the B12 as both work together in the body ?

Checking MMA and Homocysteine could be helpful - if raised then it can suggest B12 levels are low in the cells.

[Hidden in reply to Marz]

Thank you Marz

Some very informative points there!

Yes I do take an Asda B Complex with just 100% RDA of all the B vitamins

Unlike some that I've seen with 3000 % RDA!

Then I add 7.5 B12 later in the day to make a total of 10ug

Yes, I may well drop the B12 dose to 2.5 (the recommended RDA) for a few days and see how I feel

I understand B12 has to be taken every day, as it's water soluble?

It's the muscle aches I'm really hoping to get an answer for

I wonder if my taking 10ug (400% RDA) was too much and contributed in some way to the aches?

I shall ask my helpful GP to consider testing MMA and Homocysteine after your suggestion

Thanks again Marz

Alps

[SlowDragon Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

MMA and homocysteine tests only usually done privately

nutris.viapath.co.uk/pages/...

[Hidden in reply to SlowDragon]

thank you slow dragon for helpful private testing link

Alps

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

Alpsholiday

I haven't checked your previous posts but am I right in thinking you said you take statins? If so did you know that they're not recommended when hypothyroid:

nhs.uk/conditions/statins/c...

.....

People at an increased risk of side effects

If you have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), treatment may be delayed until this problem is treated. This is because having an underactive thyroid can lead to an increased cholesterol level, and treating hypothyroidism may cause your cholesterol level to decrease, without the need for statins. Statins are also more likely to cause muscle damage in people with an underactive thyroid.

[Hidden in reply to SeasideSusie]

Hi seaside susie

I took a short 12 week course of statins on the 'advice' of my Dr in early 17

Despite my cholesterol being under 3

I agreed because I was having CABG on 2/2/17 and didn't want it postponed

However, the muscle aches started then, so I stopped them

I have had every test including the gold standard of Muscle biopsy to check for muscle damage, but nothing found

I was certainly not given any Thyroid blood tests

Thanks

Alps

[humanbean]

If you had not taken any B12 supplements in the last few months or a year and your B12 result was high in range or over the range then there is a possibility that this indicates a problem.

academic.oup.com/qjmed/arti...

You can download the above paper as a PDF if you want to.

Unfortunately, once people take B12 supplements there is no way of knowing whether a high level is due to supplementing or is caused by one of the things mentioned in the link I just gave.