High serum B12 when a person is taking SUPPLEMENTS means that the B12 is being absorbed. And that is it. So your friend's high result is GOOD, means the oral is working
No upper level for this from the FDA either.
Now a high reading when a person is NOT taking a supplement, can indicate a disease going on in the body. Some forms of kidney damage, liver disease, cancers including leukemia.
The ranges for vitamins were made from people NOT taking a supplement. So a high reading only means that the person is taking something.
Let this be a lesson to doctors... know what you are doing, and don't blindly follow lab results. In the case of B12 if your range goes down to 200pg/ml... be advised that the new range should start at 400pg/ml. This is according to medical protocols now.
Here is the link to print out and give to the doctor:
It also explains MMA and homocysteine tests.
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/0301/p979.html
There are drugs that impair B12 in the body.
All acid lowering drugs for GERD
metformin
estrogen treatment and birth control pills
long term antibiotic treatments
vegan lifestyle or poor diet low in animal sourced foods
Estimates today are that 40% of Americans may be low in
B12. With statistics like that, doctors need to refresh their
education ASAP.
Here is the new video on it, which includes a DOCTOR who almost died from low B12:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvEiz...ature=youtu.be
Testing is not enough, if the old ranges are followed. Testing is not useful if doctors cannot interpret them correctly.