Health Topics A-Z

Apply Now, former

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

Health Topics A-Z

ENCYCLOPEDIA INDEX

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

1 2 5 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X

Vitamin B-12 level

Overview Risks Results

Normal Values:

200-900 pg/ml (picograms per milliliter)

What abnormal results mean:

Values of less than 100 pg/ml indicate a significant deficiency of vitamin B-12, with symptoms likely to be present or develop.

Causes of vitamin B-12 deficiency include:

inadequate intake (rare except with a strict vegetarian diet)
malabsorption diseases (for example, celiac disease and sprue)
lack of intrinsic factor
hypermetabolic state (for example, with hyperthyroidism)
pregnancy

Increased vitamin B-12 levels are uncommon, because normally excessive B-12 is excreted in the urine. However, excessive B-12 may occur with disorders that affect the levels of proteins that attach to vitamin B-12 in the blood. These disorders include:

liver disease (such as cirrhosis or hepatitis)
myeloproliferative disorders (for example, myelocytic leukemia)

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

Calorie Count - Nutrition Database