Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is one out of eight B-vitamins in our body. It is essential for the function of several vital processes in our bodies, such as the production of red blood cells, DNA synthesis and neurological function.
Normal levels of vitamin B12 indicate that your dietary intake provides sufficient building blocks necessary for your overall health.
Measuring vitamin B12 can be relevant for various reasons, as it is involved in multiple bodily processes. The most common and perhaps obvious is to investigate whether or not you suffer from deficiency. Deficiency in itself can arise from causes such as a strict vegan diet, absorption dysfunction or heavy alcohol consumption.
B12 can be measured as part of a routine blood test or if a person is experiencing symptoms associated with deficiency. Measuring your B12 can also, once confirmed that there is a deficiency, be used for monitoring effects and effectiveness of treatment.
High levels of vitamin B12, also known as hypercobalaminemia, are in general considered harmless with no need for concern. Many people having elevated levels of B12 won’t even know and won’t experience any symptoms from it. It might at times, however, be of importance to understand the underlying cause of the elevation.
Supplementation is perhaps the most common, and also the least harmful. Liver disease, kidney disease and various blood disorders may also cause elevated B12 levels. In those cases, other test results or associated symptoms will follow to indicate that further investigation is needed.
Low levels of vitamin B12, also known as vitamin B12 deficiency, indicates that you aren’t getting enough vitamin B12 into your body. The possible reasons for this can vary, but may result in several health problems such as affected nerve function and anemia.
Some of the most common causes behind a deficiency are high intake of alcohol, malnutrition and conditions affecting the ability to absorb B12 from the diet.
If you show low vitamin B12 levels, it is important to have the value interpreted by a healthcare professional to decide if further measures are needed or not.