What causes naturally high B12 levels?
Christopher Harper
Updated on April 02, 2026
Usually, excess vitamin B12 is removed in the urine. Conditions that can increase B12 level include: Liver disease (such as cirrhosis or hepatitis) Myeloproliferative disorders (for example, polycythemia vera and chronic myelogenous leukemia)
Can inflammation cause high B12 levels?
Abnormally elevated B12 has been attributed many causes [5,6], e.g., myeloid blood malignancies [7–9], acute or chronic liver diseases [10–12], chronic kidney failure, autoimmune or inflammatory diseases [3], and Gaucher disease [13].
How can I lower my B12 levels?
Most people can prevent vitamin B12 deficiency by eating enough meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products, and eggs.
How can I reduce my vitamin B12?
Research has suggested that the consumption of alcohol may reduce vitamin B12 levels. An older study indicated that moderate alcohol intake diminished vitamin B12 by 5% among “healthy, well-nourished, postmenopausal women.” Alcohol-related liver disease may falsely increase vitamin B12 test levels.
How can I reduce my vitamin B-12?
How do I reduce my B12 levels?
What should I eat if my B12 is high?
To increase the amount of vitamin B12 in your diet, eat more of foods that contain it, such as:
- Beef, liver, and chicken.
- Fish and shellfish such as trout, salmon, tuna fish, and clams.
- Fortified breakfast cereal.
- Low-fat milk, yogurt, and cheese.
- Eggs.
What to do if your B12 is too high?
For people with high levels of B-12, treatment involves adjusting your diet. This may mean eating less animal products like meats, dairy, and seafood. If you’re diagnosed with a B-12 deficiency, the goal of treatment is to increase your level of vitamin B-12.
What happens if your B12 is too high?
High levels of vitamin B12 may lead to skin conditions such as outbreaks of acne and rosacea, which cause redness and pus-filled lesions on the face. Too much vitamin B12 activates specific bacteria that can lead to acne-promoting inflammation.
What are the risks of high vitamin B12?
High Levels of Vitamin B12 May Be Linked To Increased Cancer Risk. Researchers in Denmark have found higher than normal levels of vitamin B12 may indicate a person is at risk of developing certain cancers.
What does high B12 blood levels really mean?
High blood B12 levels can occur in liver conditions such as cirrhosis and hepatitis. Alcoholic liver disease is an example of a liver condition associated with high vitamin B12 . With alcoholic liver disease, vitamin B12 as well as its carrier proteins can be elevated.