Vitamin B-12 is required by your body's hematological and neurological systems. Additionally, vitamin B-12 facilitates lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. According to "The Wonders of Vitamin B12," normal blood levels of this vitamin range from 190 to 900 ng/ml. High levels of vitamin B-12 normally result from either increased supplementation or an increased natural production in your body. However, high levels of B-12 do not cause any adverse health responses.
Vitamin B-12 Synthesis
Intestinal bacterial B vitamin biosynthesis involves vitamins B-1, B-2, B-5, B-8, B-9 and B-12. According to "User's Guide to the B-Complex Vitamins," at least two groups of organisms in your small bowel, Pseudomonas and Klebsiella, synthesize significant amounts of the vitamin B-12. Vitamin B-12 absorption involves several products of your gastrointestinal tract including saliva and specific receptors. A significant amount of bacteria in the final part of your small intestine often explains a sharp increase in absorption of vitamin B-12, resulting in higher blood levels of this vitamin.
High Vitamin B-12 Levels
According to "Could it Be B12? An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses," there are not many adverse effects associated with elevated vitamin B-12 levels in healthy individuals. However, individuals with coronary stents can increase the risk of narrowing in the arteries by combining excessive quantities of folic acid, vitamin B-6 and vitamin B-12 in their bodies. In rare cases, healthy individuals can also experience skin reactions such as itching, redness and formation of bumps from elevated levels of vitamin B-12. Other possible side effects associated with high vitamin B-12 levels include bloating and diarrhea.
Conditions Presenting With Increased B-12 Levels
There are some diseases that result in elevated vitamin B-12 levels. However, with these diseases, the elevation is a consequence of the pathology of the disease and not a cause. Diseases that can result in elevated vitamin B-12 levels include liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatitis, myeloproliferative disorders such as polycythemia vera and chronic myelocytic leukemia carcinomatosis, several types of leukemia, and myelosclerosis.
Vitamin B-12 Regarding Energy and Performance
According to "The Wonders of Vitamin B12: Keep Sane and Young," vitamin B-12 can improve the symptoms associated with fatigue and weakness. Therefore, supplement manufacturers commonly promote vitamin B-12 as an energy enhancer and claim that elevating the vitamin B-12 levels in your blood will produce energy. However, according to the "User's Guide to the B-Complex Vitamins," clinical research does not support the claims that vitamin B-12 supplementation has a beneficial effect on performance unless a person has a nutritional deficit.
References
- "User's Guide to the B-Complex Vitamins"; Burt Berkson and Arthur J. Berkson; 2005
- "Could It Be B12?: An Epidemic of Misdiagnoses"; Sally M. Pacholok and Jeffrey J. Stuart; 2011
- "The Wonders of Vitamin B12: Keep Sane and Young"; Dr. Manuel Esperanca; 2011
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