Not anaemic but borderline low B12

[bowler]

should folic acid be taken with B12 sublinguals even  if there's no anaemia ?

[wedgewood]

I would say yes, definitely 

[Meggymoo63]

If you don't mind me asking what was your B12 levels? The reason I ask is I have PA and B12 and have treatment. Had my daughter tested which came back at 234 docs not interested at all. 

[bowler in reply to Meggymoo63]

To cut a story,   2 years ago   my B12 was 226,   [ within range ]  with the advice of the B12d site  [ I saw my GP of 28 years who was about to retire] who agreed to injections,  I only had 3 and came out in a red  rash, The the Locum took me off them [ my  Dr had now retired ] so I went on sublinguals  i had a good result and the B12 went over 2000  so again was told by another Dr.  to come off the sublinguals especially as my level was over 2000, and  my folate and ferritin was still well within range

2 years on.     My B12 has gradually decreased and I was shocked at the last blood test  which showed it had dropped to 300. no wonder I feel so tired, amongst other things,   so I have decided to go back on the sublinguals but wasn't sure what else to take.  I don't think it's worth me going back to see a Dr.  with a level of 300  they wont can be interested, so as the   "Swansons sublinguals"  did their job last time I can only but try them again.

regards bowler

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi bowler  as wedgewood   says "Yes, definitely" as folate works hand in hand with B12

[bowler in reply to clivealive]

Hi clivealive

I have read that  "Only take folate for 4 months"?  I assume I can still carry on with the B12 Sublinguals.   I am wondering,  if once I reach a good B12 level like I did before,   should I still take them, and not stop as the Dr, said. 

thanks bowler

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to bowler]

Hi bowler ,

I am not a medically qualified person but as I understand it if you are B12 deficient then it's not good to have a high folate level as this can "mask" the B12 deficiency and you shouldn't supplement  with folic acid until you start on B12 injections or sublinguals etc.

Once your B12d is being treated then it is important to keep your folate levels up as they work hand in hand with the B12 you are taking.

Personally I take a folic acid 400ug tablet every day and my serum folate level in March was 18.2ng/ml (3.10 - 20.50) Normal - No action. There is also folic acid added in my breakfast cereals and is found in my vegetables so I'm certainly getting plenty, but then I've had  have P.A. for 45 years and am on permanent B12 injections for the rest of my life so I need my folate to be in good shape.

Hope this makes sense and I wish you well for the future.

[bowler in reply to clivealive]

Thank you clivealive

 I am waiting for my Sublinguals to arrive from Amazon,   so haven't taken any yet,   my folate is 17.3 ,  that's without supplements, so I will just take the B12 and see how things go.

I eat plenty of veg, and liver once a week,  i also have marmite every day on my toast, however that's very salty so not good for my stage 3 kidney disease, another health issue I have, it never ends

regards bowler

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to bowler]

Wow bowler  "i also have marmite every day on my toast" the elixir of life.  I thought I was doing well having a Marmite sandwich two or three times a week, but you're right about the salt - fortunately my kidneys are OK at the mo.

"Folate is found naturally in a wide variety of foods, including vegetables (especially dark green leafy vegetables), fruits and fruit juices, nuts, beans, peas, dairy products, poultry and meat, eggs, seafood, and grains. Spinach, liver, yeast, asparagus, and Brussels sprouts are among the foods with the highest levels of folate."

I wish you well for the future

[bowler]

Thank you wedgewood and clivealive,

I just get confused with it ,  as my folate and ferritin are both on the higher side, so didn't think I needed more