Question:
EXCESS B VITAMIN LEVELS
I am 18 months post-op. Every time I have my B vitamin levels checked, they are extremely high. My PCP told me to stop taking anything that B vitamins in them because high levels of these vitamins can cause nerve damage. Has anyone else experienced this? — Carla B. (posted on April 27, 2004)
April 27, 2004
My B12 levels are over 2000, which with my lab is way high. However my PCP
has not told me to stop taking them. I will be interested to see what
responses you get. I always thought that high levels of B's were not
harmful??? Thanks for the question. RNY 11/02 300/147
— cathy G.
April 27, 2004
My last blood test showed that my B-12 level was high, not as high as
yours, but with 200-1100 being normal range I was 1235. I was taking one
sub-lingual every day, and they told me that my new tummy was absorbing
very well and that I should only take one sub-lingual a week. so with a
number like 2000, I think you should follow your doctors directions and
stop taking b vits for now. you should probley have a blood test in 3
months, and that will give you a better idea where you will be with your b
vit numbers. I was told that any b vit that was extra would just go out of
your system in a BM, that was incorrect information.
— cindy
April 27, 2004
WHICH B level? B12? B1? Which one? How high is too high? My natural
(pre-op) level was 1900, and I didn't even eat high B12 foods. It took 6
yrs to drop post-op, but indeed it did. Good thing I was watching. Before
you panic, check it out and see how high is high, which B it is, and is it
one that is excreted.
— vitalady
April 27, 2004
My doctor just told me yesterday that excess b-12 won't hurt anything. She
said whatever you don't use, your body will get rid of since it is a
water-soluble vitamin. My level is 960 with sublinguals, but I just
started a b-12 shot 2 days ago, because I just feel so much better with the
shot.
— joeandteri
April 27, 2004
I have not done a lot of research on this, but I have heard that it is the
LACK of b-12 that will cause nerve damage not excess(read that in Discovery
magazine years ago). Go to webmd.com and search on the topic. I've also
heard that since the b vits are water soluble, any excess is taken care of
when we pee.
— Ali M
April 27, 2004
Here is a good link that explains some aspects of human nutrition (of
course this pertains to people with normal stomachs, but it is good
background info to have)
<p>
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/N/Nutrition.html
<p>
Scroll down to the "Vitamins" section and read about the B vits.
— Ali M
April 29, 2004
The B vites are water soluble, and any excess will just make pretty yellow
pee.
There are some who have believed that excess folic acid will cause
neurological damage. I don't find anything to actually support this. One
local nutrition centered MD that I know regularly recommends large doses of
folic acid to counter the effects of homocystein, and prevent stroke, heart
disease, and alzheimer's.
And many "experts" believe that the "normal ranges" for
many of these (esp. B12) are chronically low. That we should be much
higher.
Deficiencies of some Bs *WILL* cause permanent, disabling neurological
damage. I know, I have it.
Please don't waste *your* brain! Take your Bs.
— RWH G.
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