A member asked:

How long do i need to abstain from alcohol before seeing a level drop in the mcv?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Julie Abbott answered

Specializes in Preventive Medicine

I don't believe: a precise answer to this is known. This blood marker used to track abstinence takes a long time to normalize. The rise in MCV is a direct result of the effect of alcohol on erythroblast/red blood cell development. The half--life of the abnormal RBCs is 40 days...40 days after abstinence half of the abnormal RBC population would be extinguished. Obviously, normalization would take even more time.

Answered 1/17/2018

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