Folate & B12 levels

[Karenhskippy]

Can anyone comment on my filsteblevel compared to b12. Folate is 6ug.. b12 is 428. Ive had an ongoing problem with horrid mouth, inflamed tongue. Ivd been diagnosed with reflux and hiatus hernia but despite changing my diet I'm still heaving mouth problem which made me wonder if its my folate levels? Please can anyone advise?

[Nackapan]

What has your doctor said?

Folate does look low

Have you looked up symptoms of low folate ?

Speak with your doctor who will advise.

[Karenhskippy in reply to Nackapan]

I've had an ongoing problem with sore tongue unpleasant taste and just diagnosed with joatus hernia and reflux but after changing diet still habe mouth problems and wondered if its a b vitamin deficiency as ive suffered with tiredness too.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Karenhskippy]

the symptoms of folate deficiency are more or less the same as those of B12 deficiency.

On the face of it your B12 level is well within range so unlikely to be what is causing the problem. However, serum B12 is a very difficult test to interpret because people tend to sit at different points in a very wide range - more useful if done as a review over time to see if levels are falling which would indicate an absorption problem.

Have you spoken to your GP and what do they say?

[Karenhskippy in reply to Gambit62]

I'm not concerned about my b12 l just wondered if the folate was low at 6ug.. my doctor has given my nystatin last year for oral thrush as I take steroid inhalers but a year later I still have the problem. I'm awaiting endoscopy for my reflux (silent) so perhaps I'll find out more then. I just hate it. I've stopped coffee, chocolate and all the triggers for reflex & even omeprazole didn't resolve the mouth issue..

[Hidden in reply to Karenhskippy]

Pure organic coconut oil is very good for oral thrush just take a teaspoon swirl around mouth then spit out.you can buy from Holland and barret small grey and blue tub,around £2 worth a try ??

[Karenhskippy in reply to Hidden]

I will try it but I don't think its really thrush as I've done the spit test in water and I don't have a creamy substance ( sorry gross) I've tried cider vinegar, bicarb of doda and gargling with tea tree.

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Karenhskippy]

Thanks for the clarification on the B12.

You would need to give the range of the folate result to know if it was low or not - there are two different units used and the result you have given doesn't include the full unit. I can never remember off the top of my head what ranges are.

I hope that the endoscopy helps you get to the source of the problem.

Folate is very responsive to dietary changes.

[Karenhskippy in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you its says on the results serum folate level 6.0ug/L ,(range 3.0 - 20.0) my diet is really good lots of veg and fish etc

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to Karenhskippy]

in that case the folate result is in range but a little towards the low end. Because there isn't any natural mechanism for regulating folate levels in the body being in range for folate is a pretty good indicator that folate isn't actually the problem.

Best of luck with the endoscopy

[Karenhskippy in reply to Gambit62]

Thats very interesting, thank you.

[Showgem in reply to Karenhskippy]

To increase folate in your diet you need to eat lots of green leafy vegetables.

[fbirder in reply to Showgem]

And nuts, seeds and pulses.

I sprinkle about 20g of milled flax seeds on my Weetabix. That’s about 16 mcg from the seeds and 16 mcg from the Weetabix.

[fbirder]

Your folate is well within the normal range.

Unlike B12 the folate test is good at distinguishing between those who are deficient and those who are not.

However, to put your mind at rest I would recommend taking folic acid supplements. 200 to 400 mcg a day should be enough to get your levels up while being safe.

[Karenhskippy in reply to fbirder]

Thank you yes I'm going to try that.. im sure its probably due to my avid reflux but I was hoping after making diet changes I would have seen an improvement sooner. I guess patience is the name of the game.