What does a methylmalonic acid test show?
What does a methylmalonic acid test show?
An MMA test is most often used to diagnose a vitamin B12 deficiency. This test is also used to diagnose methylmalonic acidemia, a rare genetic disorder. It is usually included as part of a series of tests called a newborn screening.
What does methylmalonic acid in blood test mean?
Methylmalonic acid (MMA) is a substance that is created when your body digests protein. The amount of vitamin B12 in your body controls how much MMA your body makes. A high amount of MMA typically means you have a vitamin B12 deficiency. There are two types of low-risk methylmalonic acid tests. One is a blood test.
What is a MMA test used for?
The methylmalonic acid (MMA) test may be used to help diagnose an early or mild vitamin B12 deficiency. It may be ordered by itself but generally with a homocysteine test as a follow-up to a vitamin B12 test result that is in the lower end of the normal range.
Can you have B12 deficiency with normal MMA?
As the natural course of vitamin B12 deficiency is not well-known, it cannot be excluded that participants with low serum B12 but normal MMA may be in the early, still asymptomatic phase of their deficiency.
What are the symptoms of MMA?
Children with MMA lack a protein that the body needs to break down fats and cholesterol inside cells. As a result, these substances build up in cells, causing damage to the brain, liver, kidneys, and other organs that gets worse over time. Symptoms of MMA may include vomiting, “floppy” muscles, and excessive fatigue.
When do you need a methylmalonic acid test?
Methylmalonic acid test is not a part of routine health check-ups. Instead, doctors sometimes use it to follow up on people with normal B12 levels but with symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. It can also be used to check if B12 supplements are working.
Which is more sensitive vitamin B-12 or methylmalonic acid?
The methylmalonic acid test is more sensitive than the vitamin B-12 test. As a result, it’s better able to identify vitamin B-12 deficiencies at the lower end of the normal range. The methylmalonic acid test is often used along with the vitamin B-12 test or to clarify ambiguous vitamin B-12 test results.
How is methylmalonic acid ( MMA ) used in the body?
Methylmalonic acid (MMA) is normally made in the body in tiny amounts. It builds up only in the absence of vitamin B12 and can be used as a functional indicator of vitamin B12 status. However, testing MMA is still controversial and has some limitations. Read on to find out more about this test.
Why are my methylmalonic blood test results low?
There are many factors that come into play with the results of a methylmalonic blood test. Low Vitamin B12 results may indicate a lack of stomach acid, which is common when taking acid reduction medications, such as omeprazole.