New research shows higher than normal amounts of vitamin B12 in the blood may increase your risk of cancer.
"According to a new study published in the journal of the national cancer ought to people with higher than normal levels of the vitamin may be at higher risk of developing cancer. Further studies are needed to confirm the findings." (Via KCBS)
"The vitamin is found in foods such as meat, eggs and dairy products. The right amount of B12 helps maintain nerves and blood cells." (Via KHOU)
Vitamin B12 is the largest and most structurally complicated vitamin. Usually, B12 deficiencies are rare because any excess is expelled through bodily functions and the body is able to store several years worth of the vitamin at a time. (Via Livestrong)
... which lead researchers in Demark to investigate whether it was even possible to have an overabundance of the vitamin at all. What they found was that it was not only possible, but that it could also increase the risk for a cancer diagnosis.
Researchers studied the records of more than 300,000 patients — excluding patients who had recieved a cancer diagnosis and those recieving vitamin B12 therapy — and noticed the chances of cancer rose with higher blood levels of B12. (Via Counsel&Heal)
The risks were particularly elevated for those with blood-, smoking- and alcohol-related cancers — cancers usually affecting the liver, colon and lungs. After five years of follow up, the risk still remained high. (Via Medical Daily)
But don't start throwing away your vitamin B12 supplements just yet!
While the study's authors don't exactly know what caused the unusually high B12 levels, they suspect it was through some kind of malignant process and not related to patients' food consumption or dietary supplements. (Via Everyday Health)
