What does it mean when methylmalonic acid is high?

What does it mean when methylmalonic acid is high?

High MMA levels can be a sign of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to serious health problems including anemia, a condition in which your blood has a lower than normal amount of red blood cells.

Is Methylmalonate the same as methylmalonic acid?

Methylmalonic acid (MMA) (conjugate base methylmalonate) is a dicarboxylic acid that is a C-methylated derivative of malonate.

What does low methylmalonic acid mean?

Low levels of B-12 can cause anemia. This is when your body does not make enough red blood cells. This test is used to diagnose a mild and early shortage of vitamin B-12. A high level of MMA can mean that you have a low level of B-12.

What is Methylmalonate blood test?

The methylmalonic acid blood test measures the amount of methylmalonic acid in the blood. Blood is drawn from a vein (venipuncture), usually from the inside of the elbow or the back of the hand. A needle is inserted into the vein, and the blood is collected in an air-tight vial or a syringe.

How do you treat MMA?

Methylmalonic acidemia is treated primarily with a low-protein, high-calorie diet, certain medications, antibiotics and in some cases, organ transplantation. Medication treatment consists cobalamin (vitamin B12) given as an injection, carnitine, and antibiotics.

Why are MMA and homocysteine elevated in B12?

Vitamin B12 deficiency, therefore, can lead to increased levels of serum methylmalonic acid. In the second reaction, homocysteine is converted to methionine by using vitamin B12 and folic acid as cofactors. In this reaction, a deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid may lead to increased homocysteine levels. FIGURE 1.

What is normal MMA level?

Methylmalonic acid (MMA) levels are commonly used to evaluate for vitamin B-12 deficiency. The normal value for MMA is < 3.6 μmol/mmol creatinine.

Can anxiety cause low B12?

The sad fact is that most western primary care providers treat the labs, not the person in front of them. This is changing, slowly, but it’s the sad norm. This often means that B12 deficiencies go untreated, even in folks with long standing depression and anxiety, often for years.

Is methylmalonic acidemia fatal?

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is a rare and potentially fatal genetic disorder that affects metabolism and multiple body systems that affects about one in 100,000 infants. It’s caused by a genetic defect that prevents the body from properly processing certain proteins.

Can methylmalonic acidemia be cured?

What causes B12 to be low?

Lack of vitamin B12 in your diet: People who don’t eat enough foods that naturally have vitamin B12 or don’t eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 can develop vitamin B12 deficiency. Gastritis: Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining, and it’s a common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency.

What medications cause high homocysteine levels?

Drugs such as methotrexate, 6-azauridine, nicotinic acid, and bile acid sequestrants cause elevations in homocysteine levels.

Is vitamin B12 deficiency serious?

If left untreated, the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency tend to worsen and irreversible problems involving the nerves and brain may develop. The risk of experiencing a number of serious complications, including heart failure, may also increase.

What is an Ácido metilmalónico?

El ácido metilmalónico es una sustancia que se produce en cantidades pequeñas durante el metabolismo. El metabolismo es el proceso por el cual el cuerpo convierte los alimentos en energía. La vitamina B12 juega un papel importante en el metabolismo.

What are the signs and symptoms of acidemia metilmalónica?

Puede haber una sensación pulsátil o un hematoma leve. Esto desaparece rápidamente. El ácido metilmalónico es una sustancia que se produce cuando las proteínas, llamadas aminoácidos, en el cuerpo se descomponen. El proveedor de atención médica puede ordenar este examen si hay signos de ciertos trastornos genéticos, como la acidemia metilmalónica.

What is methylmalonic acidemia (MMA)?

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), also called methylmalonic aciduria, is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder that disrupts normal amino acid metabolism.