Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is a micronutrient that the body obtains through food. Foods of animal origin can provide it, although it can also be found in fortified foods of plant origin and in food supplements or multivitamins. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that is involved in functions as important as protein metabolism, the formation of red blood cells or the proper functioning of the nervous system and cognitive functions. Maintaining adequate levels in the body is essential for good health and low levels can be as bad as maintaining levels that are too high.
Do you want to know what happens when there is a excess vitamin B12, symptoms and how to eliminate it? In this OneHowTo article, we explain it in detail so that you can take the appropriate action.
Symptoms of Too Much Vitamin B12
Wondering what vitamin B12 is for? Correct measurement is essential for the functioning of the body. Likewise, meat, fish, shellfish, eggs, milk and derivatives are some of the main sources to obtain the daily dose that the body needs, a dose that, as collected by the National Library of United States National Institute of Health[1], ranges from 2.4 mcg/day to 2.8 mcg/day in adults, depending on gender, age or special circumstances, such as pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, although high vitamin B12 excess is not common in women or men, it is something that can happen, especially if this water-soluble vitamin is not properly expelled in the urine and eventually produce an abnormal accumulation.
When this happens, between most common symptoms of high vitamin B12 levels and possible causes that can alert us to excessively high levels include:
- Dizziness and headaches for which no objective cause can be found.
- Dysfunctions of the digestive system, which usually manifest themselves in the form of vomiting or diarrhea.
- Skin rashes, pruritus, redness or acne.
- Vision problems.
- Tiredness or unexplained tiredness.
- Insomnia.
- Heart rhythm alterations. Arrhythmias or palpitations.
How to Eliminate Excess Vitamin B12
The symptoms indicated can be the sign of many pathologies, but they can also hide a high level of vitamin B12, which can be checked by a simple blood test. However, the suspicion that the cause of some of the symptoms described may be due to too high a level of vitamin B12 increases with frequent food or supplement intake which include it artificially. In any case, medical consultation is important.
If it is an excess of vitamin B12, a series of measures must be put into practice to help reduce its levels, since this high quantity can end up triggering different pathologies. Here are some of the possible solutions:
- Avoid consuming more vitamin B12, eliminating the intake of supplements that contain it and establishing a diet in which the richest foods are temporarily limited. In this sense, the advice of a nutritionist can be of great help in establishing the ideal diet, which allows you to control high levels of vitamin B12 without ending up falling into deficiencies that are not healthy either.
- Follow healthy lifestyle habits: varied diet with a predominance of fruits, vegetables and vegetables, some exercise and sufficient fluid intake, mainly water which helps to purify the body.
- When vitamin B12 is “injected”, it may be necessary to specific medical treatment, which will always depend on the disease that may be causing its high levels. Liver disease, which affects the liver, the organ responsible for the proper storage of the vitamin, or certain renal insufficiency, which means that the kidneys cannot properly eliminate excess vitamin B12, are two probable causes of this excess, which should be dealt with by the corresponding specialists.
Consequences of excess vitamin B12
In the same way that a manifest lack of vitamin B12 requires specific actions to increase its level in the body, the excess must also be treated, because in the long term it can have serious health consequences. Here are the main consequences of an excess of vitamin B12:
- The risks of “storing” too much vitamin B12 therefore exist, no supplements or medications should be taken which contain it without the necessary medical prescription.
- In addition to being able to trigger serious gastrointestinal problems, the accumulation of vitamin B12 can end up affecting the liver, leading to diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver.
- The kidneys can also be affected by an excess of this vitamin, forced to increase its functioning to try to eliminate it, which could end up damaging them more or less.
- Affects the circulatory systembecause this situation could promote the formation of dangerous blood clots and even affect the proper pumping of the heart, causing a certain type of heart failure.
As you may well know, the excess of vitamin B12 must be treated with care, but its lack must also be treated, which is why on OneHOWTO we offer you this article on the Symptoms of a lack of vitamin B12. It is very important to know if your vitamin B12 level is low or high and to act accordingly.
This article is merely informative, on oneHOW we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatment or make any diagnosis. We urge you to see a doctor if you experience any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Excess vitamin B12: symptoms and how to eliminate itwe recommend you to enter our category of Healthy life.
References
- National Library of Medicine. Vitamin B12. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.