High vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is one of the most important for the body and is part of the group of water-soluble vitamins, that is, it dissolves in water. This substance is vital for the body to metabolize proteins, produce red blood cells in the blood, and keep the central nervous system working properly .

This vitamin is obtained to a large extent through the diet and its deficiency is very rare, since the body can store vitamin B12 in the liver for many years. However, an excessive concentration of this vitamin in the blood can affect health considerably. What are the causes of high vitamin B12 ? Discover that and more in this eHealth article.

Causes of high vitamin B12

Liver disease

As we mentioned earlier, the liver is the organ responsible for the storage of vitamin B12 in the body, therefore, any disorder in its functioning can affect the levels of this substance in the body. One of the most common causes of high vitamin B12 is liver cirrhosis and hepatitis . Likewise, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages can also increase the concentration of this substance in the blood.

When a person has some type of liver disease, the liver reacts by releasing stored vitamin B12 , which causes a greater amount of this vitamin in the blood. However, when the liver is severely affected by conditions such as cirrhosis, its function begins to be increasingly poor, which prevents it from eliminating vitamin B12 and instead of discharging it through urine, the leather begins to accumulate it.

Renal problems

Vitamin B12 is released by the body through the urine to prevent its accumulation. The kidneys are the organs responsible for discarding this substance and all the toxins that are present in the body, that is, they act as the body’s filter . However, when the kidneys are diseased, they work poorly, they cannot correctly eliminate the vitamin B12 released by the liver and an excess of this substance is produced.

There are many causes for which kidney function can be compromised, but among the most common we find the presence of kidney stones , pyelonephritis or kidney infection, kidney failure, kidney cysts or kidney cancer.

Bone marrow

The bone marrow is the tissue responsible for the production of blood cells : red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. The disorder in the production of these cells can cause two conditions that are associated with high vitamin B12 and that deserve to be treated in time to preserve health. Among the hematological diseases related to an increase in vitamin B12 in the blood we find:

• Chronic myeloid leukemia : This condition is a type of cancer that occurs when the bone marrow begins to uncontrollably produce a type of white blood cell known as myeloid. This disease is caused mainly by a problem with the Philadelphia chromosome. When a person has chronic myelogenous leukemia, besides having high vitamin B12, presents platelets and high leukocytes in blood, spleen and red inflamed spots on the skin known as petechiae.
• Polycythemia vera : vitamin B12 is involved in the production of red blood cells. Polycythemia vera is a condition that occurs when the marrow overproduces red blood cells, causing dizziness, bleeding, bruising, headache, itching, and shortness of breath among other symptoms. Polycythemia vera is more common in men than in women and is associated with high vitamin B12 because it increases the protein that this vitamin carries in the body.

Some types of cancer

Although cancer is not usually the most common cause of high blood vitamin B12 , some types of this disease can cause this symptom. Among the types of cancer associated with an increase in vitamin B12 are breast, liver, kidney and gastrointestinal cancer. However, these conditions usually present another series of symptoms that are decisive for the diagnosis.

Feeding?

Not! Although we obtain vitamin B12 through our food intake, it is almost impossible that the accumulation of this substance in the body is caused by an excessive intake of foods rich in vitamin B12 . Therefore, it is important to note that this condition usually occurs due to a disorder in the functioning of the human body that prevents the proper release of the vitamin concentration in the body. There is also the possibility that it is a particular condition of a person’s body, which can cause elevated levels of vitamin B12 with no apparent cause.

Symptoms of high vitamin B12

In general, when a person has vitamin B12 high in the blood, they do not usually have significant symptoms , which is why it is so difficult to diagnose this condition. However, not everyone has the same luck and there are those who present the following symptoms:

• Dizziness and headache
• Muscle pains.
• Rash on the skin.
• Itching after showering with hot water.
• Nervousness, anxiety, and fast heart palpitations.
• Stomach pain and diarrhea

Treatment for high vitamin B12

Although the main thing is to discover what has been the cause of this bodily disorder , an excess of this substance in the body is usually reversed once the person begins to receive treatment for its original cause. That is, it is not necessary to change eating habits or take medications, the essential thing is to know why vitamin B12 is high and thus be able to attack the root problem.

Avoiding the consumption of vitamin supplements or injections of vitamin B12 without a prescription is one way to avoid the excessive increase of this substance in the body. A balanced diet is enough to obtain all the necessary nutrients and vitamins to be healthy, on the contrary, the excess of vitamin B12 and any other substance does not guarantee you to be better, it only compromises the health of your organism. Therefore, going to the doctor in case of presenting any symptoms of high vitamin b12 and avoiding self-medication with supplements is vital to preserve the well-being of the body.