Treated for low B12 and now low folic acid

[Yogijo]

I was told I was B12 deficient at the end of June and was given the 6 loading doses and I’m now receiving 3 monthly injections for B12 deficiency. I went back to the GP to see if I could have more frequent injections because I felt tired again after 2 months. The GP did mor blood tests and the results showed that I also had vitamin D deficiency and low folic acid (2.4). I’ve been prescribed high strength supplements for both. I asked if there could be a connection between the low B12 and low folic acid but the GP said not. However, I thought I’d seen something on here about interaction between the two. Can anyone help?

[fbirder]

Low B12 cannot cause low folate, and low folate cannot cause low B12. Nor does taking lots of B12 mean that your body requires lots more folate.

However, if you have Autoimmune Gastric Atrophy (PA) then, as well as stopping absorption of B12, you will find it more difficult to absorb iron, Vitamin D and folate. That is the likely explanation for your deficiencies.

Make sure you don't stay on the high dose folic acid for too long as too much may be harmful. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl... Some idiot FaceBook groups will try to tell you that you must take 5 mg of folic acid a day if having B122 injections. This is wrong and possibly dangerous.

[Yogijo in reply to fbirder]

Thanks. I did some digging this morning and I think the connection I remember reading about was that if the folic acid issue was treated but not the B12 then some people experienced a worsening of neurological symptoms. There is a warning on the folic acid patient info leaflet. I’ve been prescribed 3 months of 5mg daily and then levels will be checked again. Plus high strength Vitamin D for 2 weeks and then normal OTC supplements for life. I don’t know if I have PA. The IF Antibody result was negative and when I asked about the result the GP seemed to dismiss its relevance. However I understand the test isn’t necessarily reliable so maybe that’s why the GP didn’t seem concerned.

[fbirder in reply to Yogijo]

The GP is right to dismiss the negative IFAB result. If it's positive it means you almost certainly have PA. If it's negative it means nothing.

You're right about high dose folic acid exacerbating neurological problems of an untreated B12 deficiency. But there is some who think that it can be dangerous even in people who are B12 replete.

[Yogijo in reply to fbirder]

It’s all so complicated! Good job there’s this forum full of people who are motivated to try to untangle it all. Having information definitely makes me feel in a stronger position when I talk to the GP about it.

[Lurcher-lady in reply to fbirder]

I think I listened to that fb group for a time, very worrying and confusing. Since binning all fb groups, things are back on track from the advice given here. Thank you all 😄

[crystal54]

i am on 3 monthly injections for pa and 1 2mg folic acid daily doc said they go hand in hand