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Can High MCV Level Be Managed By Reducing The Amount Of Alcohol Intake?
Question: Hello, I am a 40 years old women and I do drink quite a lot of Alcohol and mainly wine and sometimes vodka, I had full blood full blood count done to see if I had Ankylosing Spondulitis to look for Inflammation marker, this came back fine, no inflammation in my body..reading 1.2 for that, all results came back all fine apart from 'bordeline' low Haemoglobin, they said 'mild' anaemia. He had another blood test to check for B12/folate and these came back spot on and my blood work was good apart from raised MCV levels, on looking I am guess I need to cut down on Alcohol which is fine, I don't wish to abstain completely because I know I will struggle with that as I socialise, but if I cut down to under <20 units per week, should this start to come down? I will have at least one and maybe 2 Alc free days per week. Thanks
Brief Answer:
Please upload your test reports
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I need to see the reports myself in order to get a better idea of your current situation. I can't say whether your anemia is related to alcohol or not. A high MCV usually implies alcohol abuse (not always though). 20 units per week is a little too much particularly for a female. If there's any chance of you being addicted to alcohol then cutting down on it cannot be done without medical help and close monitoring.
I'll be glad to continue this discussion after you upload the reports.
Please upload your test reports
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I need to see the reports myself in order to get a better idea of your current situation. I can't say whether your anemia is related to alcohol or not. A high MCV usually implies alcohol abuse (not always though). 20 units per week is a little too much particularly for a female. If there's any chance of you being addicted to alcohol then cutting down on it cannot be done without medical help and close monitoring.
I'll be glad to continue this discussion after you upload the reports.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I haven’t got the reports as they were done and my doctors so I gave as much detail as I could. But if most people are honest who has 14 unit’s a week, that’s usually one night out. Most men and women I know drink 30-40 + units per week without any problems. However to get my£20 worth from this answer if I cut down to safer levels and then get tested in 3-6 months as my doctor said will my MCV come back down and if so does that correct the anemia if it does?
Brief Answer:
can't be sure
Detailed Answer:
The reports are very important. I can't get the complete picture without them...
A high MCV may be anything between a borderline MCV (95fL) to a really high MCV (125fL). A borderline MCV is not enough to raise serious concerns particularly if it has been stable for years. On the other hand a rising MCV and particularly a high one may indicate various problems including alcohol abuse, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, various blood disorders like myelodysplastic syndrome, etc. A microscopic examination of peripheral blood sample may provide additional details to help with the diagnosis. Vitamin B12 and folic acid levels can be measured in the blood.
Cutting down on alcohol may help with your MCV. A healthy diet may help more (people who drink a lot may not eat properly). Certain supplements (B12, folic acid) may help as well (provided that vitamin B12 and/or folic acid levels are low). If alcohol is not the underlying cause then you won't see any improvement. That's why a diagnosis is needed beforehand.
Regarding the amount of time required for these disorders to get corrected, 3-6 months sounds reasonable.
Keep in mind that alcohol consumption takes its toll on the body and women are particularly prone to liver disease even with much lower consumption than men. Some individuals may never get liver, heart or other disorders no matter how much they drink. Other individuals will get serious problems and we can't predict who would be the 'lucky' ones.
I suggest visiting your doctor in order to get a diagnosis for your problem. The diagnosis is needed first, actions should come later... Cutting down on alcohol is a wise choice no matter what.
Kind Regards!
can't be sure
Detailed Answer:
The reports are very important. I can't get the complete picture without them...
A high MCV may be anything between a borderline MCV (95fL) to a really high MCV (125fL). A borderline MCV is not enough to raise serious concerns particularly if it has been stable for years. On the other hand a rising MCV and particularly a high one may indicate various problems including alcohol abuse, vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency, various blood disorders like myelodysplastic syndrome, etc. A microscopic examination of peripheral blood sample may provide additional details to help with the diagnosis. Vitamin B12 and folic acid levels can be measured in the blood.
Cutting down on alcohol may help with your MCV. A healthy diet may help more (people who drink a lot may not eat properly). Certain supplements (B12, folic acid) may help as well (provided that vitamin B12 and/or folic acid levels are low). If alcohol is not the underlying cause then you won't see any improvement. That's why a diagnosis is needed beforehand.
Regarding the amount of time required for these disorders to get corrected, 3-6 months sounds reasonable.
Keep in mind that alcohol consumption takes its toll on the body and women are particularly prone to liver disease even with much lower consumption than men. Some individuals may never get liver, heart or other disorders no matter how much they drink. Other individuals will get serious problems and we can't predict who would be the 'lucky' ones.
I suggest visiting your doctor in order to get a diagnosis for your problem. The diagnosis is needed first, actions should come later... Cutting down on alcohol is a wise choice no matter what.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks very informative i have already had all tests but might pay for a liver one. Cut down and get retested
Brief Answer:
liver tests should be done
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome! If you haven't done liver tests (like AST, ALT, ALP, gamma GT) then you should. The liver function tests may return to normal within a month.
liver tests should be done
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome! If you haven't done liver tests (like AST, ALT, ALP, gamma GT) then you should. The liver function tests may return to normal within a month.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Within a month of cutting down do
You mean ? My bloods showed perfect B12 and folate as I said so I have no deficiencies. My diet is second to none with nuts, seeds, raw and cooked veg, lean meats, oily fish, quorn, avacado, olive oil, little red meat no pig products, diary products, Keto diet so no sugar, or grains ... only wine lol. Spices turmeric garlic ginger all suppprt the liver so I’ll include those more. Also take a high strength B vitamin and eat plenty on sunflower seeds to help with B1 from the wine but cutting down in the week. Will more at the weekends hurt if I cut down mid wick drastically
You mean ? My bloods showed perfect B12 and folate as I said so I have no deficiencies. My diet is second to none with nuts, seeds, raw and cooked veg, lean meats, oily fish, quorn, avacado, olive oil, little red meat no pig products, diary products, Keto diet so no sugar, or grains ... only wine lol. Spices turmeric garlic ginger all suppprt the liver so I’ll include those more. Also take a high strength B vitamin and eat plenty on sunflower seeds to help with B1 from the wine but cutting down in the week. Will more at the weekends hurt if I cut down mid wick drastically
Brief Answer:
yes
Detailed Answer:
Most liver function tests get better within a month of cutting down. If the liver has suffered permanent damage then the tests may never get back to normal. I can't say more about that. I haven't even seen your tests!
It's great that your diet is that good, it's only the wine that complicates everything... Binge drinking is harmful as well. Aim for less than 14 units per week.
yes
Detailed Answer:
Most liver function tests get better within a month of cutting down. If the liver has suffered permanent damage then the tests may never get back to normal. I can't say more about that. I haven't even seen your tests!
It's great that your diet is that good, it's only the wine that complicates everything... Binge drinking is harmful as well. Aim for less than 14 units per week.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for your help. I didn’t tell you how much I was drinking so any amount of cutting down should help!. A tough 3 years of problems and a big love of socialising and home drinking hasn’t helped. But I’m onto it. Ordering a test tonight and bit scared for the results but wish me luck Thanks
Brief Answer:
good luck then!
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome and of course I wish you luck with the tests!
You've told me that you would try to cut down to less than 20 units per week which is too much already, so I had an idea about your drinking habits.
So good luck!
good luck then!
Detailed Answer:
You're welcome and of course I wish you luck with the tests!
You've told me that you would try to cut down to less than 20 units per week which is too much already, so I had an idea about your drinking habits.
So good luck!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
If I still keep the discussion open I may report back :-/
Brief Answer:
I'm not sure
Detailed Answer:
If it's going to take a month or more, then I doubt you can keep it open. You should contact the helpdesk for that.
Kind Regards!
I'm not sure
Detailed Answer:
If it's going to take a month or more, then I doubt you can keep it open. You should contact the helpdesk for that.
Kind Regards!
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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