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What Causes Elevated MCV Levels?
Question: I am a 61 year old woman, 5'51/2" tall and weigh 138 pounds. I recently had my physical and everything was perfect except for my mcv level. It was slightly elevated (101) She suggested that I delete alcohol from my diet and it will correct it. I was shocked. I like to have a couple of glasses of wine in the evening. What do I need to do to correct my mcv level? I do have low vitamin D level. If I quit drinking will I correct my mcv level?
Brief Answer:
Going through the list of causes, yes alcohol intake could be the cause
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Let me list all the possible causes for elevation of MCV levels and from there on we can narrow it down to the most likely cause.
+Anemias (folate deficiency, haemolytic, aplastic, vitamin B12 deficiency): These would have been diagnosed on the blood examination and so we can rule this out
+Liver disease: Would have reported abnormal liver enzymes, so can be ruled out
+Abnormal thyroid (hypothyroidism): Not sure if a thyroid profile was conducted or not, if it was then this also can be ruled out
+Excessive alcohol intake
So far, I concur with your doctor, the alcohol intake could be the cause for the mildly elevated MCV. I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Going through the list of causes, yes alcohol intake could be the cause
Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.
Thank you for writing to us.
I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Let me list all the possible causes for elevation of MCV levels and from there on we can narrow it down to the most likely cause.
+Anemias (folate deficiency, haemolytic, aplastic, vitamin B12 deficiency): These would have been diagnosed on the blood examination and so we can rule this out
+Liver disease: Would have reported abnormal liver enzymes, so can be ruled out
+Abnormal thyroid (hypothyroidism): Not sure if a thyroid profile was conducted or not, if it was then this also can be ruled out
+Excessive alcohol intake
So far, I concur with your doctor, the alcohol intake could be the cause for the mildly elevated MCV. I hope you find my response both helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.
Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Will I correct my MCV level if I quit drinking? Will it go back down to normal?
Brief Answer:
Yes you will correct it by quitting alcohol and it will return to normal
Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.
Yes, it does seem that alcohol is the cause. So you will correct your MCV level by cutting down or completely avoiding the alcohol. It should return to normal.
Best wishes. :)
Yes you will correct it by quitting alcohol and it will return to normal
Detailed Answer:
Hi ma'am.
Yes, it does seem that alcohol is the cause. So you will correct your MCV level by cutting down or completely avoiding the alcohol. It should return to normal.
Best wishes. :)
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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