folic acid

[Pa234aw]

Is there a good resource showing the need for good folate levels alongside B12 injections?

I’m on 4-weekly B12 injections but my latest serum folate blood test is at the very low end of the range, but technically in range according to the NHS so ‘no action required’. It’s gone down while I’ve been having the injections. Was >20 ug/L now 4.4 (range 2.5 - 9999).

I’ve looked at NICE guidelines and they separate out B12 and folate deficiency and treat each separately.

Thanks in anticipation.

[Narwhal10]

Hi Pa234aw,

Technoid posted this.

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

Folate and B12 are in 2 different metabolic cycles. So, what is happening at cell level. It is basic biochemistry. Hope this is of some help.

[Pa234aw in reply to Narwhal10]

Thanks Narwhal, but I don’t think I’m going to get my GP to watch a 10 minute YouTube video!

I’m looking for something simple that says taking folic acid alongside B12 injections is a good thing when folate levels are low.

[Narwhal10 in reply to Pa234aw]

Oh sorry Pa234aw,

I misunderstood, my mistake as did not realise you needed information to give to your GP. Good to know that you have an approachable one.

[Pa234aw in reply to Narwhal10]

My fault. I wasn’t clear!

[Technoid in reply to Pa234aw]

This might not be simple but

"One-carbon (1C) metabolism is centered around two essential vitamins: folic acid (B9, folate) and cobalamin (B12). "

mdpi.com/2218-1989/13/4/486

Without adequate folate, B12 is not going to work properly, and vice-versa.

[Technoid in reply to Technoid]

The simplest diagram I could find at short notice. This shows the folate cyle. There is more to it than this but this shows the interdependence of B12 and folate hopefully.

cdn.lecturio.com/assets/Rol...

[Mixteca]

I don't have a resource to share but the B12 specialist I consulted said I needed to aim for folate levels of between 12-20 for effective uptake of B12. Mine was 5 when I started EOD injections and far too low. I doubled my 400mcg of methylfolate to 800 and raised levels in a few months.

[Pa234aw in reply to Mixteca]

Thanks Mixteca. I’m going to start methyl folate. I’ve found some at 600 mcg,