[Kiya]

Hi, anyone here deal with elevated b12 levels and can give any helpful info? Like where to find info, or what is considered normal (I'm finding all sorts of answers on the net). I'm reading ranges from 200-600 to 900 to 1500. It's hard to know. Doc said I'm 10% high - but said 1000 is still normal. said i'm 18 points high.

No: I am not taking supplements, eating lots of leafy greens, or veggies. I eat microwavable things. and coffee.

My main concern is what I have read about high levels (not due to supplements or greens) being a pre-cursor in certain cancers. I have several that run in my family, namely that my maternal granma had a type of leukemia which is one of the things listed for elevated b12. My dr thinks i'm being stupid for asking all these questions and says I'm fine.
But with the various on-going symptoms I have, I have to ask at some point 'When is fibromyalgia NOT fibro?'
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Kiya

[CANDC]

Best thing is to contact your healthcare professional. If trying to treat this on your own, you are taking on a lot, but there are online resources.

[Kiya]

The resources on the net are all over in normal ranges... and my two clinics vary (200-1000; 180-914). I'm 1018. Some of the newer studies that connect high ranges of B12 to certain lymphomas say ranges should not go over 800.
Neither doctor office wants me to come in. "you're fine. don't worry about it". Neither seem to be concerned that my mom's mom had lymphoma. "You're being paranoid".
It doesn't sit well with me.

[Alone & confused]

Originally Posted by Kiya

Hi, anyone here deal with elevated b12 levels and can give any helpful info? Like where to find info, or what is considered normal (I'm finding all sorts of answers on the net). I'm reading ranges from 200-600 to 900 to 1500. It's hard to know. Doc said I'm 10% high - but said 1000 is still normal. said i'm 18 points high.

No: I am not taking supplements, eating lots of leafy greens, or veggies. I eat microwavable things. and coffee.

My main concern is what I have read about high levels (not due to supplements or greens) being a pre-cursor in certain cancers. I have several that run in my family, namely that my maternal granma had a type of leukemia which is one of the things listed for elevated b12. My dr thinks i'm being stupid for asking all these questions and says I'm fine.
But with the various on-going symptoms I have, I have to ask at some point 'When is fibromyalgia NOT fibro?'
Thoughts?
Thanks,
Kiya

Wow! I had no idea about that being a precursor! All I've heard about b12 were things like deficiencies, and once I heard you could take "a truck load" of it and it wouldn't hurt you. I have a lot of family who had cancer as well, but still never heard about this elevated level thing. My mom is having a biopsy soon ( hopefully the mass is benign!!) I can try to remember to ask her Dr about this.
And if you have family history, it's NOT stupid to ask questions!

[Kiya]

oh, best to your mom with the biopsy!!!!

That's just the thing: I keep searching for elevated or increased, and the links lead me to deficiencies. Meh. I'll ask my pnurse today.

[Fresia]

The reason it is so hard to find ranges is that it depends on the lab where you are tested and what is within the limits of the test for the analyzer for that lab. The range for one analyzer's method that is used at one lab is going to be different than the range used for another analyzer's method at another lab. They will be relative but you have to go with what the doc has provided or you can pick up the results where you got tested to see the ranges and how high above range you are or for anytime you get tested.

For B12, it take a massive amount, CRITICAL high ranges to be put into the category of being prone to cancers. We fluctuate all the time so being 10% high above range, I can understand why he said this is still normal, it is not as high as it sounds. It is high, but not critical, and it takes a lot to be critical.

[Kiya]

Thanks Fresia, that helps a lot! No where on the net was I finding what numbers would be critical.

Originally Posted by Fresia

The reason it is so hard to find ranges is that it depends on the lab where you are tested and what is within the limits of the test for the analyzer for that lab. The range for one analyzer's method that is used at one lab is going to be different than the range used for another analyzer's method at another lab. They will be relative but you have to go with what the doc has provided or you can pick up the results where you got tested to see the ranges and how high above range you are or for anytime you get tested.

For B12, it take a massive amount, CRITICAL high ranges to be put into the category of being prone to cancers. We fluctuate all the time so being 10% high above range, I can understand why he said this is still normal, it is not as high as it sounds. It is high, but not critical, and it takes a lot to be critical.

[Fresia]

That is because it takes a lot for them to be critical, it is rare. I will, for example, check with our lab to find out what the ranges are some time in the next couple of days just to give you an idea but again the methods are analyzer dependent and will vary. I am coming back from vacation so I need a day or two to get caught up on some things. However, I can say for certain, at 10% high, you are nowhere near critical range.

B12 is a water soluble vitamin that is easily eliminated from our bodies; it fluctuates so much that one value it nothing to panic over unless it is too low. Not having enough is much more of a concern and why you are finding more information about this than what happens if too high. The body is more tolerant of this than too low. We cannot function without it.

I don't know the critical end off the top of my head as not seen but rarely, but will check.

[Kiya]

Well, before I had called them back (or was waiting for them), I'd researched it and the range said 200-600 and that cancers started being higher in the 800 range. My number was 1018 (and with a type of leukemia running in my family, you can see why I was a bit panicked). Then I read all sorts of ranges. Then the clinic called and said the top range was 1000 and so I was only 18 points over. How can things differ so?

[Fresia]

It is because of the testing methodologies, not all the labs use the same methods, and each has their own set of ranges based on the test that is used to do the measuring. The last lab I worked at the normal range was 300-900;critical low was 150 or below and critical high was 1600 or higher.

When they say that "cancers run in the 800 range" is irresponsible because it based on a lab that subscribes to a specific testing method and relative to those ranges; your lab that you go to may not use the same testing methodology for which those number would not apply. Those numbers cannot be applied to all methods.

[Fresia]

It is because of the testing methodologies, not all the labs use the same methods, and each has their own set of ranges based on the test that is used to do the measuring. The last lab I worked at the normal range was 300-1100;critical low was 150 or below and critical high was 1900 or higher.

When they say that "cancers run in the 800 range" is irresponsible because it based on a lab that relative to those ranges for labs that use a specific methodology which your lab may not use. It cannot be applied to all methods.

[Kiya]

awesome - thanks!