Elevated B12 and Folate

[ibcdbwc]

Without giving you the "long song and dance" -- any immediate reasons these two values are consistently elevated (two lab reports 6 months apart) -- This is without supplementation.

[searching_for_help]

What kind of test was it? The reason I ask is, the Great Plains Oats test has as asterick by B12 and some other vitamin markers, indicating that a "high" value for that marker may indicate a DEFICIENCY of that vitamin.

 

 

[ibcdbwc]

This was a standard lab corps test - both times. No asterisk. Interesting note though. A deficiency would make more sense ;-)

[LNN]

Have you tested MTHFR? If you have mutations, it's possible a reduced ability to convert folate into methylfolate (which is what MTHFR does) can create a "folate trap." The folate (and its companion B12) aren't being used up in a well-running methylation cycle and instead, they puddle up, showing as high folate/B12 levels. Docs think - hey, this is good, you have plenty. But when you have MTHFR, it's like being surrounded by canned foods and starving because you lack a can-opener. Plenty of food, but you lack the necessary tools to get the nutrition you need.

 

If you do have MTHFR issues, you'd need to be avoiding regular folate (e.g. fortified cereals) and supplementing with small amounts of methylfoate and either methylB12 or hydroxyB12. That should get the cycle moving properly and you'd expect to see your folate and B12 blood levels drop.

[bigmighty]

LLM's comments were true for me. My B12 and folate were on the highest end of normal range. But it turned out I was compound heterzygous for two MTHFR gene mutations. So I had plently of B12 and Folate, but was unable to convert them to methyl-B12 and methyl-folate. So they were there but just went unused. After I started supplementing, my next labs showed my B-12 and Folate on the low end of the normal range - because my body was finally able to eliminate what it could not convert (because it DID have the methyl versions via supplements).

[ibcdbwc]

Thanks so much. That is what I have been thinking. I was going to pursue checking his status regarding MTHFR but things spiraled since his ttgIgA came back elevated. I guess its time to slowly start looking at this area as well. An exhausting process. You figure one thing out but then that leads to more questions...