What level of B12 is concerning?

Values of less than 160 pg/mL (118 pmol/L) are a possible sign of a vitamin B12 deficiency

vitamin B12 deficiency

It is rare for young people to be deficient in vitamin B12, but it is not uncommon for older people to be mildly deficient. This may be because their diets are not as healthy, or because they have less stomach acid, which the body needs to absorb B12. Low levels of B12 can cause a range of symptoms including: Fatigue.

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Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) Information | Mount Sinai - New York

. People with this deficiency are likely to have or develop symptoms. Older adults with a vitamin B12 level less than 100 pg/mL (74 pmol/L) may also have symptoms.

Is 400 a low B12 level?

Patients with serum vitamin B12 levels between 150 and 400 ng/L are considered borderline deficient and should be evaluated further by functional tests for vitamin B12 deficiency.

What number should your B12 level be?

Diagnosis of B12 deficiency. B12 deficiency is usually detected through a B12 blood level. Typical lower limits of normal are 200 pg/ml. Levels between 150 and 300 should be confirmed with secondary surrogate markers (see following).

Is very high B12 serious?

Elevated levels of serum cobalamin may be a sign of a serious, even life-threatening, disease. Hematologic disorders like chronic myelogeneous leukemia, promyelocytic leukemia, polycythemia vera and also the hypereosinophilic syndrome can result in elevated levels of cobalamin.

Is 500 a good B12 level?

The vitamin B12 standard reference range is 200–700 pg/ml whereas the proposed optimal range is 500–1300 pg/ml [10]. Higher vitamin B12 ranges have been associated with increased cognitive function, and reflexes, decreased brain atrophy, confusion, weakness and depression [10].

What are optimal levels of B12?

What is a dangerously low B12 level?

Values of less than 160 pg/mL (118 pmol/L) are a possible sign of a vitamin B12 deficiency. People with this deficiency are likely to have or develop symptoms. Older adults with a vitamin B12 level less than 100 pg/mL (74 pmol/L) may also have symptoms.

Is B12 level of 1500 too high?

There is no consensus on the definition of high or elevated B12. Previous studies have chosen a variety of levels to represent high or very high B12 (pmol/l) levels. Some examples include: 664.2¹⁹; 513¹; 700 (high) and 1500 (very high)¹¹; and 601 (high) and 1000 (very high)¹⁰.

What happens when B12 levels are high?

In some people, high levels of B12 may cause gastrointestinal problems such as bloating and diarrhea. And if you have high blood pressure or poor cardiovascular health, having too much B12 may further complicate these issues. Pregnant and breastfeeding women may also need to be especially mindful of B12 levels.

What cancers cause high B12?

In the Danish registry, a B12 > 800 pmol/L (1084 ng/L) was associated with the following cancer sites: pancreas, esophagus and stomach, colon and rectum, lungs, kidneys, urinary bladder, and strongly with liver [14].

Can too much B12 cause neuropathy?

Thus, vitamin B12 may be associated with both sensory and motor peripheral nerve function. In older adults, the prevalence of poor peripheral nerve function and neuropathy is high and increases with age^18–21.

Is 350 a low B12 level?

A serum vitamin B₁₂ level between 200 pg/mL and 900 pg/mL is considered normal, but a threshold of 300 to 350 pg/mL is recognized as a marker for a desirable status in the elderly. The laboratory diagnosis is usually based on low serum vitamin B₁₂ levels or elevated serum methylmalonic acid and homocysteine levels.

Can you overdose on vitamin B12?

You cannot overdose on vitamin B12 because any excess you simply pee out. If you get b12 shots, you may experience side effects like dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. It is possible to have elevated B12 levels in blood tests, which may indicate cancer or diabetes.

What causes B12 to be low?

Lack of vitamin B12 in your diet: People who don't eat enough foods that naturally have vitamin B12 or don't eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 can develop vitamin B12 deficiency. Gastritis: Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, and it's a common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency.

How long does it take to recover from B12 deficiency?

Once you begin treating your vitamin B12 deficiency, it can take up to six to 12 months to fully recover. It is also common to not experience any improvement during the first few months of treatment. If you can, it's a good idea to address what's causing the deficiency.

How quickly can B12 levels change?

If a person stops consuming the vitamin, the body's stores of this vitamin usually take about 3 to 5 years to exhaust.

Is 148 low vitamin B12?

The recommended laboratory evaluation for patients with suspected vitamin B₁₂ deficiency includes a complete blood count and serum vitamin B₁₂ level. A level of less than 150 pg per mL (111 pmol per L) is diagnostic for deficiency.

What does a B12 level of 2000 mean?

But a normal level of vitamin B12 in your bloodstream is generally between 190 and 950 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL). Between 200 to 300 pg/mL is considered borderline and your doctor may do more testing. Below 200 pg/mL is low and more testing is needed.

What causes elevated B12?

The most common cause of high B12 in the blood is due to recent ingestion or injection of supplemental vitamin B12. We don't worry about overdosing on B12 supplements because excess can be excreted in your urine. It could also be possibly from your diet if high in animal products such as meat, eggs, and shellfish.

What causes falsely elevated B12 levels?

Such falsely high valued of serum vitamin B₁₂ levels are observed in myeloproliferative disease, acute hepatitis, severe alcoholic liver disease, and cirrhosis. Vitamin B₁₂ binds with transcobalamin (TC) II.

Should I be worried about high B12?

Is taking high doses of B12 helpful or harmful? Since B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, it's generally considered safe, even at high doses. No Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) has been established for B12, due to its low level of toxicity.

Is low vitamin B12 life threatening?

B12 deficiency. Delay in diagnosis and treatment resulted in a near fatal presentation of a common disease. The primary care physician should be aware that there is a window of opportunity for diagnosis and treatment; several complications of Vit. B12 deficiency are irreversible if early treatment is not provided.

What are the warning signs of vitamin B12 deficiency?

Is B12 deficiency damage permanent?

Long-term vitamin B12 deficiency can cause nerve damage. This may be permanent if you do not start treatment within 6 months of when your symptoms begin. Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia most often responds well to treatment. It will likely get better when the underlying cause of the deficiency is treated.

How do you fix B12 deficiency?

A serious vitamin B₁₂ deficiency can be corrected two ways: weekly shots of vitamin B₁₂ or daily high-dose B₁₂ pills. A mild B₁₂ deficiency can be corrected with a standard multivitamin.

How can I raise my B12 levels fast?