High Vitamin B12 Level and Integrative Medicine

DJ · Post by DJ » Sun Oct 18, 2015 6:45 am

Hi All,
I promised to update on my integrative medicine experience but I first need to bring a concern to the group. I've had a elevated B12 level for quite some time now. Early this year my level was 2500 and recently about 1500. I was alarmed at my results as B12 is water soluble and excess is easily removed from the body. Elevated B12 can be a sign of very serious illness that requires immediate attention. My Integrative Medicine Nurse Practitioner feels that my elevated blood level is caused by M/C and that I am actually B12 deficient, so she prescribed a daily maga-dose B complex vitamin with methylated B12. I compromised and bought a lower dose B complex with methylated B12 (1670% of MDR) and took it once or twice weekly. One morning after having the vitamin and soon after, cereal and coconut milk fortified with B12, I broke out in a red rash all over my body. This is when I had the repeat B12 and the 1500 blood level.
How would one diagnose low B12 when serum B12 is elevated?
Does anyone else have elevated serum B12? Is it common to our diagnosis?

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 8:34 am

Have you been tested for an MTHFR mutation? Your integrative doc is probably assuming you have one or two. Than means your enzyme that converts regular B-12 to the active, usable form is only operating at 30%, and regular B-12 can build up and even become toxic for you. The build up of cyanocobalabin would explain the high blood levels, but you probably have low levels in your tissues. Same is true for folic acid. You must avoid fortified foods and only take the methylated forms of these vitamins.

You can easily find out your mutations by ordering a $99 23&Me saliva gene test in the mail and running your results through the Genetic Genie.com website.

Post by **tex** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 9:43 am

DJ,

Actually, a number of us have elevated B-12 test levels. In my case it's almost surely due to the fact that I have taken Metanx for so many years. When I asked my GP whether I should be concerned about it, he said "No".

Tex

DJ · Post by DJ » Sun Oct 18, 2015 9:48 am

Hi Zizzle,
Yes, I was tested and I have the MTHFR mutation. I had only a couple of processed/fortified foods in my diet (GF cereal and coconut beverage) and I eliminated them. I wonder if eliminating those will correct my blood level. Might the methylated form also be a problem? I have a diet very high in meat and fish.

Do you know what other useful information might come from a 23&me analysis?

Thanks!

DJ · Post by DJ » Sun Oct 18, 2015 9:51 am

Hi Tex,
I have been concerned so thanks for being in touch. So much for coconut beverage! I'm on my way to the store to look for something new for my coffee. I eat very few processed foods so I won't be giving up much. Do you think I should try the methylated B12 again after I am completely free of all enriched foods?

Post by **tex** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 9:58 am

I wish I knew the answer to that question, but I really have no idea.

Tex

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Sun Oct 18, 2015 6:36 pm

Which MTHFR mutations do you have? 677T or 1298c? And how many copies? If you are not methylating well, even the methylated B-12 may not be fully usable by your body. Many people with the 677T mutation have to start low and slow on the methylated Bs, often due to side effects.

DJ · Post by DJ » Mon Oct 19, 2015 4:38 am

Hi Zizzle,
I wanted to look back on my results but I can't find them at the moment. I know 677T is the issue. I think I have two copies. I'm so frustrated that I recently misplaced my results.

lisaw · Post by **lisaw** » Mon Oct 19, 2015 7:49 pm

DJ:

You can get coconut milk with no additives that will work for you. Trader Joes and other stores carry it.

Lisa

DJ · Post by DJ » Tue Oct 20, 2015 4:42 am

Thanks Lisa, I will try Trader Joe's and another local store. I can't find coconut milk without addatives in the supermarkets.

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Tue Oct 20, 2015 9:57 pm

When research methylation results I read that a high serum B12 can mean that the inactive form is high, but we are low on active form.
Do you take the active form of B12?

I don't have either of the Mthfr mutations but do have methylation issues, and my combo of results showed that I need to take both forms of B12 for the B12 to be absorbed and used properly..

DJ · Post by DJ » Wed Oct 21, 2015 4:34 am

I have 677T 677T. At the suggestion of my Nurse Practitioner, I took methylated B vitamins. I used half the recommended strength with far less frequency than recommended. I was also using Silk fortified coconut milk and occasionally, fortified Chex. The short story is that I broke out in a systemic rash

My grandmother had what I have. She had a terrible cough that she called "choking" (exactly like mine) and she had pernicious anemia. I don't know how to learn if my underlying B12 level is low while my serum B12 level is high. I eat a LOT of meat and fish.

DebE13 · Post by **DebE13** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 6:00 pm

I've had elevated B12 for a while. No one seems too concerned and I don't know what the next should be if any. Googling the possibilities lead me to believe I was dying

so I stopped. I currently have other health issues to obsess over so I'm currently burrying my head in the sand on this one. All joking aside, I really don't know if it's an issue or something that will send me on a wild goose chase if I bring it up.

DJ · Post by DJ » Mon Oct 26, 2015 7:33 pm

I have a history of "microdosing". After I speak with my Integrative Practitioner, I may make homemade methylated B vitamin capsules by dividing one store-bought capsule among several blank capsules to learn if I can tolerate a much lower dose.

Deb, I was entirely freaked out from what I read about elevated b12. Being that my practitioner thinks it's my gut, and so many in our group have the same problem, I think I'll join you in obsessing about something different.

Lucy_B · Post by **Lucy_B** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 10:06 pm

My B-12 is also very high, but my doc said that was to be expected b/c I take a daily megadose of methyl B-12 in addition to my l-methylfolate (I'm compound heterozygous for MTHFR). I never realized elevated B-12 could be a sign of something serious. Of course now I'm probably gonna google it and freak myself out, lol. ;) Honestly, though, I don't think you have anything to worry about. Do you take l-methylfolate as well? They seem to work synergistically.