Is Increase In MCV Directly Related To Alcohol Consumption?

Posted on Fri, 30 Mar 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 30 Mar 2018 Answered on

Fri, 26 May 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : Hi I wonder if A Doctor familiar with haemtology can answer this. My MCV was 101.3 last week, and needs to be under 100 to be normal. It's probably alcohol related, but stopped completely 2 weeks ago. My question is , will enough macro cures be destroyed in 2 weeks to be under 100. When I'm not drinking my MCV lies about 95

Answered by Dr. Monish De (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
MCV increases with excessive alcohol intake

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

The normal level of Mean corpuscular volume(MCV) is 80-96 fL/red cell in an adult. Your MCV of 101.3 is high. This indicates pernicious anemia, alcoholism, Vitamin B12 or folic acid deficiency.

MCV is an index of red blood cell size and it increases with excessive alcohol intake after 4 to 8 weeks. Yes, enough macro cures can be destroyed in 2 weeks to be under 100.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Thank you.

Regards,
Dr. Monish De
Oncologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee

Follow up: Dr. Monish De (20 hours later)

I am a health care professional also. But all literature says MCV returns to normal withi 2 months. Even though. My MCV was 101.3, and the normal in my country / labs is 100.
Also, I donated blood 2 weeks ago - will this affect the results - as erythroblasts are bigger than erythrocytes

Answered by Dr. Monish De (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Blood donations decreases MCV level.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

MCV returns to normal within 3 months of abstinence from alcohol. It decreases as number of blood donations increases.

Hope I have answered your query.

Thank you.

Regards,
Dr. Monish De
Oncologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D