What Does It Mean If Your MCV Blood Test Is High?
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- čas přidán 15. 07. 2024
- Are you looking at your blood test and finding elevated MCV levels? What does MCV actually mean, and what's causing your elevated MCV levels? My name's Dr. Terranella, and in this video, we're going to look at what it means if your MCV blood tests are high.
We're going to look at some of the causes behind this, what levels on your MCV tests might be significant, and some other things surrounding the MCV that are important to understand when you're trying to get this number under control.
What does it mean if your MCV blood test is high?
Well, first of all, MCV stands for mean corpuscular volume (MCV). It is a blood test that looks at the relative size of the red blood cells, or the average size of the red blood cells (erythrocytes). If it is larger than normal or outside the reference range, it is called macrocytosis.
MCV is a measurement of the relative volume or size of the red blood cells. A red blood cell is referred to as a corpuscle, so MCV means mean corpuscular volume. It is typically reported in units of femtoliters (fL), and the range that is typically given is somewhere around 85 to 100, with optimal being somewhere around 90 or a little bit higher. As it gets above 93, that could be more of an indicator of a problem with DNA production in particular.
An elevated MCV outside of the normal range is called macrocytosis, which can have several underlying causes. The most commonly associated with this is called megaloblastic anemia, which just means you have really large red blood cells. And because that's going on, it leads to not enough red blood cells overall, and that's where the anemia comes from. Let's break this down a little bit more.
Megaloblastic anemia is characterized by impaired DNA synthesis, and it results in larger than normal red blood cells. The most common cause for this is deficiency in vitamin B12 or folate. These are essential nutrients needed for normal red blood cell maturation. That's because these nutrients are needed for DNA production, and that DNA production is needed for normal maturation of the red blood cells.
Sometimes these deficiencies are due to not enough consumption of those vitamins, folate, and B12. Sometimes it's for genetic reasons. For example, if you have MTHFR mutation or other single nucleotide polymorphisms in folate metabolism or B12 utilization, that could lead to some of these problems. And other times it's from increased excretion of these vitamins. And a lot of times it's just a combination of all the above.
A classic example of this combination is with chronic alcohol consumption. With chronic alcohol consumption, you're basically commonly going to see on your CBC macrocytosis. Now, it's not always going to lead to megaloblastic anemia or frank elevations outside the reference range. But generally speaking, if you're consuming alcohol on a daily basis, you're going to have an MCV that's on that higher side of one. Why is that? Well, alcohol can interfere with folate metabolism, utilization, and excretion, as well as the same for B12. And the result is an impairment in the production and full maturation of those red blood cells. So more of them are getting released in that larger stage.
So in terms of what does it mean when you have an elevated MCV blood test, it means that a lot of your cells are being released in that larger stage. Now, of course, B12 and folate deficiency aren't the only reasons, but a lot of the other reasons are going to be connected to that in some way. But not every reason.
So some other reasons that are connected to an elevated MCV are certain medications that interfere with B12 and folate utilization. And then of course, there are other types of anemia that can affect this. Bone marrow disorders, which of course can lead to anemia as well. And then liver disease can also cause this in some instances.
It's important to note on this topic that an elevated MCV alone does not provide a specific diagnosis and doesn't tell us for sure that it is a problem for you. Most of the time when you initially spot this, it means further testing and understanding of what's going on with B vitamins, bone marrow, and other things related to this are going to be needed. Sometimes it'll just be high on one test, and the next test you do, it looks normal.
But of course, some of the blood tests that you're going to want to follow up on are things like B12 and folate to verify if this is or isn't an issue now.
One thing that I have noted in my practice is that people who do consume alcohol on a regular basis and have this chronic elevated MCV, supplementing with folate and B12 doesn't seem to correct the problem. So there seems to be something with the alcohol that's interfering with the utilization of those B vitamins in some ways. - Věda a technologie
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Great vid; thanks.
Glad you liked it!
This was great! Thanks
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent!
Thanks
I have high MCV and MCH, but my B12 levels are optimal.
Great video thanks. Can u recommend a quality b complex?
That’s interesting I have high MCv and High MCH but a normal MCHC. I was told my red blood cell are large and that my B12 and folate needed to be incorporated in my diet. Symptoms dizziness when I squat down, HA, tingling in my limbs, also intolerant to gluten it makes me itchy. Anyone relate?
Köszönjük!
Your welcome thank you. Appreciate it!
@@swintegrative Dr. Terranella, I would be extremely grateful if you could take a look at my rather long question below. I am totally lost and can’t find proper medical assistance here in my home country 😔
Your video was very explanatory and in many ways helped me to understand why I might be having a condition called MCV! Recent blood tests were definitely showing abnormalities! Though indeed I am aware that whilst I work hard full time in the construction industry I tend to binge with alcohol at the weekends. I suppose I see this as a release and reward for a hard weeks work? At this point I know I need to make some lifestyle reductions/ changes NOW. Or face the consequences in the longer term?
That is hard to say for sure but that seems likely based on what you provided so far.
What does a high Ugg blood test mean,a very high Ugg blood test like off the charts please Thank-you,
Hey doctor my mch is 34.0 I have notice that after I eat filling shortness of breath. Can you give your opinion.
Chris Masterjohn recommends folinic acid instead of folate for high MCV to deal with the hypo DNA production
Folate is a broader term that includes folinic acid folic acid and methylfolate.
Is 93.5 high? B12 deficiency? Thank you
I just had a blood test done and my MCV is 106.6 and my MCH IS 37.6. I am 70 years old, what does these numbers mean?
Sir My all report is normal My hamoglobin is normal
, My platelets are normal
, my W.B.C is normal ,
but
R.B.C is high (6.89)
my M.C.V is low 66.6
M.C.H is also low 20.6 PG
My Symptoms = Shortness of breath
What is this problem how can i treat it ?
I’ve been super tired, lightheaded and achy. My MCV is 100. I am peri menopausal and having frequent and long periods. Could that be why? Thank you!!
Yes could be
What about people who have high MCH and never consumed alcohol? I have parathyroid disease. Can that cause high MCH numbers?
MCH has more to do with hemoglobin concentration. keep in mind that most of these test need to be done multiple times to determine if it is high low or normal.
Hi Dr Thank you for the explanation... and sorry for m'y english, i'm from France. My little girl who IS 11 years old, has vgm 86.9 fl hémoglobine 13.6g/dl and hématocrite 41.3 % her folate IS 4.96 ng/ml. My doctor says she has'nt anémia because the hémoglobine IS not low but a little UP.... what do you think about this ? ❤
I don't do much with pediatrics low hemoglobin or rbc's is anemia. when the levels are low normal it could be indicator of deficiency of iron folate or b12.
Did they measure her B12, and was she well hydrated when the blood was drawn? Does she have symptoms that brought you to the doctor, or was it just an annual physical?
Hi Doctor, great video is it normal to have high MCV levels and very high Vitamin B12 levels ? Best,
Emma
No not really
I have this too 😮
If you are supplementing b12, then you can have a lot floating around in your blood. That doesn’t mean it’s getting into your cells where it needs to be. There are other tests you can take to see that.
Im 48 year old and my MCH is been low for years, always between 26.0 - 26.3. HgB between 13.1 - 14.1. Iron levels and other blood indicators are always between the acceptance criteria. What is your feedback on this scenario?
Please see video on low mcv
Can i take hmg together trt instead of hcg??
you can i think it is harder to get and may not work as good. I have never used it.
Hey.. my father have high mcv level that is 117.3 fl. And also the mchc level comes down to 26 .
Can you please tell me , is it to worry or not??
Well those levels are high as u stated so it’s not ideal for the body.
Hi I do not drink and my B12 and folate levels are fine, but my MCV is at 104. My platelets are at 38. What could be wrong? Thanks
What u need to explore is are your B12 and folate levels really “fine” go deeper into the question. I have several videos on how to evaluate this. The basic tests are not always enough.
@@swintegrative Thank you. 😊
Someone mentioned giving blood if you are taking Testosterone, is that true or something you should do as a male?
Only when your hematocrit is high. Your doctor should be tracking that though
@@swintegrative When you say tracking, I assume taking blood work. How often should someone on TRT be getting blood work done in your opinion?
How about donating blood? After donating, shouldn't MCV be affected?
Good question but harder to definitely say. It depends on the situation but short answer yes it can.
Hi. Mine been between 97 and 100 within 6 months. I’m a vegan. Any suggestion? Thank you. Just became a subscriber
my book "don't b12 deficient" goes into a lot of detail on this topic.
Veganism and low b12 go hand in hand. You need to supplement with a good b12 supplement or start eating some red meat.
What Does It Mean If Your MCV Blood Test Is low? :)) mine was 82 fl..
I will make a video on this topic.. most common is low iron. There are other causes
Can drinking lots of coffee make your mcv high?
Well coffee has been shown to increase rx of b vitamins so f on that sense it could