Folic acid

[Julesjules]

I self inject .should I be taking a folic acid supplement as well

Any advice please

[wedgewood]

Yes, julesjules , it’s very important that you include folate ( green leafy vegetables , peas etc or folic acid in your diet . Vitamins B12 and B9 (folate/folic acid) work together .

[Gambit62 Administrator]

its quite probable that the absorption problem that lead to B12 deficiency will also affect your ability to absorb folate from your food - but not to the same extent. The best form of folate is food but supplementing with 400mcg of folic acid from the supermarket isn't going to do any harm.

The needs for folate are likely to be greatest when you start treatment with B12 as your body will be using folate not just to run processes that haven't been running whilst you were B12 deficient but will also be trying to heal damage caused whilst you were b12 deficient and this is why you can become folate deficient if your folate levels are low when you start supplementing B12.