QuestionQUESTION: What could elevated Vitamin b12 and folic acid levels mean? It is especially odd being that
I do not eat meat. My original labs actually showed low levels of HGB and HCT so doctor tested further. I am so confused!!
ANSWER: High levels of B12 and folate are not usually clinically monitored. Increased B12 and folate may be seen with vegetarian diets. So your vegetarian diet is probably the reason for the high levels, so there's probably no reason to be concerned as long as all of your other results are within normal limits.
Samantha
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Samantha,
I just need to clarify--wouldn't my levels be lower because of the way I eat? I
always read that vegetarians are in danger of not getting adequate B vitamins...
thanks for your time and quick response!
Stacee
AnswerHi Stacee. I wasn't 100% sure about the answer to your question, so I checked out my favorite reference site, LabTestsOnline.org. Here is the link to that site where I found the answer:
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/vitamin_b12/test.html#what
Actually, it says that high folate levels can be from a vegetarian diet, not necessarily B12 levels. But I read somwhere else online that high folate levels can mask a B12 deficiency. Do you eat alot of B12 fortified foods or do you take a B vitamin daily? A more reliable test to check for B12 deficiency is MMA (MethylMalonic Acid). Sorry for the confusion.
Samantha
