folic acid

[lesbud1]

Hi all

could you tell me please how long you need to stop folic acid before a B12 test?

[Nackapan]

To my knowledge you do not need to stop folic acid

[lesbud1 in reply to Nackapan]

Many thanks. I thought taking folic acid masks B12 deficiency

[Nackapan in reply to Nackapan]

If you have b12 deficiency and don't treat it before folic acid is started that'd when it can be mask b12 deficiency.So if deficient in both b12 and folate. B12 must be treated first . .then low folate treated

[lesbud1 in reply to Nackapan]

Many thanks, that's what I thought. A friend's daughter is having symptoms and the GP started her on folic acid a couple of months ago. She is now going to get a private blood test but just wondering how long to leave off folic acid.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Folic acid is B9. It will not affect the results of a B12 test. To get a baseline for B12 you need to stop for at least 3-6 Months.