Description
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) - B12 is decreased in pernicious anemia, total or partial gastrectomy, malabsorption and certain congenital and biochemical disorders.This test determines the level of Vitamin B12 in the blood and can help diagnose anemia or neuropathy. B12 is a crucial vitamin needed for the creation of healthy red blood cells and proper nerve function and can only be consumed through diet. This test is usually ordered as a followup to an abnormal CBC result or when a person is showing symptoms of anemia and/or neuropathy.Vitamin B12 deficiency is a common cause of megaloblastic anemia, in which the bone marrow produces abnormally large, unusually structured, and immature red blood cells. Pernicious anemia is a type of megaloblastic anemia in which a person can’t properly absorb vitamin B12 because they can’t produce intrinsic factor.
High levels of vitamin B-12 can be a sign of liver disease, certain types of leukemia, or diabetes.Pernicious anemia is a reduction in red blood cells. It occurs when your intestines can’t absorb vitamin B-12, which is necessary for red blood cell production. High serum folate levels may mask vitamin B-12 deficiency and worsen the symptoms.Serum folate measures the level of folic acid in the blood. Folic acid is necessary for your body’s growth and development and the production of red and white blood cells and platelets.
Both high and low levels of vitamin B-12 may indicate an underlying problem. Low levels of B-12 can suggest anemia, an internal parasite, and hyperthyroidism. High levels of B-12 may increase your risk for cancer.Low levels of either vitamin B12 and folate (another B vitamin) can cause macrocytic anemia, a condition in which blood cells are larger than normal and have low hemoglobin (the protein that carries oxygen). Macrocytic anemia makes a person feel weak and tired.
