Do you need B12 and Folic Acid together

[terrybraden]

Hi Anyone,

I have been supplementing with a lot of B12 both sublingual and the patch, but I have not been taking oral Folic Acid, except in a Stress B Complex which has L-5 Methyltetrahydrofolate (from calcium) 1 mg.

I have been noticing more heart problems (palpitations, etc)

My energy level and mood are ok, but I am also experiencing muscle weakness, dizziness, fatigue and left sided weakness are returning.

Is this all related to how much folate I am getting. I also take Ranitidine.

I want to keep up my activity. Any suggestions? I only started with a new GP yesterday and don't know what to ask. From my past records, my B12 and Ferritin are Okay.

Thanks.

Terri

[clivealive Forum Support]

There is a complex interaction between folic acid, vitamin B12 and iron. A deficiency of one may be "masked" by excess of another so the three must always be in balance.

Symptoms of a folate deficiency can include:

symptoms related to anaemia

reduced sense of taste

diarrhoea

numbness and tingling in the feet and hands

muscle weakness

depression

Ask your new GP to test your serum Folate level and take it from there although from what Hidden says it's unlikely that you will need more than you are already taking.

Best to be sure.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

really suggest that you speak to pharmacist in relation to the Ranitidine if you can't get to your GP.

Wondering why you are supplementing if your levels were okay - notice you say you are vegan - if you are taking B12 because you don't have any in your diet then the amounts you need to be taking are around 50mcg a day - what is the amount in the supplement you are taking?

whilst B12 isn't toxic raising serum B12 levels can result in a reaction which hinders B12 moving from blood to cell leaving you deficient at the cell level so, unless you have a B12 absorption problem you should not take very large does of B12 (the 1000mcg+ tablets).

there are reported cases of people who experience problems converting methylcobalamin to adenosylcobalamin (the other form that is needed by the body and the one that I think is more associated with releasing energy in muscles) - so methylcobalamin may not be the right form for you to be taking on its own - switching to a lower dose supplement would mean switching to cyanocobalamin - which you should be able to convert to both of the forms that are used at the cell level.

You mention one-sided weakness - generally problems with B12 tend to be symmetric so that does suggest that B12 isn't all that is going on.