A family member was off all supplements for about 10 days before testing levels. They found very high B12 & folate . We were told it meant a metabolic problem causing kidneys to have to hang on to all the B12 & folate they could because the CELLS still needed more.

DNA tests showed genetic variants hindering utilizaion of B12 and Folate (which would also mess up the whole mitochondrial energy production cycle using glycine etc).

The net of it is that in spite of the high blood levels, the family member is on Metanx (methylated B12, methylated folate and p-5-p).

That sounds like one the 25 polymorphism DNA errors in the methylation metabolic sequence. This is called MTHFR mutation

The Metanx has all 3 vitamins activated so the body does not have to do it.
This is one reason I recommend methylcobalamin rather than cyano form.

Hi and many thanks for the info altho' I don't know about my folate level and have no idea what the third ?p-5-p? If you would be kind enough to tell me a bit more I would be very grateful. As stated I 'fired' my doc because he wouldn't approve of any tests other than B12. Do you suppose it has anything to do with budget considerations. Frazzles me .... grrrrrr...
Anyway would like to hear more from you if possible & thanks again for what you offered.

p5p is activated B6-- the pyridoxine in vitamins is not the active form the body uses.

I have a thread about it here:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread30724.html

Hello Mrs.D!
Finally, after 9 months of severe symptoms and mis-diagnoses? I 'officially' been told that I meet all the criteria for pernicious anemia. Had multiple tests, 24 hr urine; 9 tubes of blood. Anyway, now I know what I have. Former B12 level of 68 is now over 1000 and doc just said, "keep on doing what you are doing"... 2000 mg jarrow methyl b12 and a typical multiple vitamin/mineral combo. My questions is that the literature I've been reading today about p.a. seems to be saying that I need to be careful not to take too much folate as it negates the b12. Any truth in that? I had planned on ordering the jarrow b right but it has a lot of folate. Can you make any sense of our my muddled mind and query? As always, I appreciate your knowledge and thoughtfulness so very much. Nancy

When B12 is very low, and not treated/fixed, and THEN you use
folic acid, that is when a problem may occur. What happens is that there may be an "improvement" in feeling, but further damage to nerves continues because the B12 remains low.

But since your B12 levels are very good, the risk from folate is not applicable anymore. In other words, not a worry.

There other factor is that you are already using the methyl form. Other forms of B12,
need to be methylated, and the folate takes that up instead. It is not an issue with the new methylcobalamin, like it would be with the cyano (older type).

That was interesting. Thanks for sharing experience.