Folic acid and digestive issues

[Chickens44]

Has anyone suffered loose bowel after starting folic acid? Only been on it a week and started getting loose bowel since then, wondered whether this is the cause. If so, should I stick with or try methyl folate instead?

[Technoid]

How much are you taking? It can be worth trying either methylfolate or folinic acid to see if either would cause less issues.

[Chickens44 in reply to Technoid]

I’m taking 5mg every other day when I do my B12 injection. Dr K did say to perhaps try methyl folate, but The Pernicious Anaemia Facebook admins say they don’t recommend it as it can increase anxiety and doesn’t work as well as folic or folinic. So not sure what to do.

[Technoid in reply to Chickens44]

Why take such a huge dose? Are you folate deficient?

[Chickens44 in reply to Technoid]

I am low on folate, b12 and iron. Had an iron infusion on Friday and started B12 injections and advised to take folic acid and these were ones prescribed by specialist. He feels it is worth me trying methyl folate.

[Technoid in reply to Chickens44]

what was your RBC folate result? You could certainly try methyfolate or folinic acid.

[Chickens44 in reply to Technoid]

Last serum folate I had done was 4.7 (range 3.10 - 19.9) and has been consistently in the low range for years. I am going to try methyl folate.

[Technoid in reply to Chickens44]

It's low but still in range so I personally don't see a clear reason to supplement more than 800mcg folate (DFE) or 400mcg folic acid along with ensuring a good dietary folate intake. Very high doses of folic acid do not convert well and will just build up unmetabolized folic acid which is at best useless and at worst may have some health risks. Methylfolate or folinic acid do not have these issues. If you were taking low dose folic acid it might not matter as much but you are taking 2500mcg folic acid a day which is just over 12 times the RDA.

[Canadian77 in reply to Chickens44]

The PA admins told you to take 5mg EOD when you do B12 ?

[Technoid in reply to Chickens44]

Chickens44 " methyl folate, but The Pernicious Anaemia Facebook admins say they don’t recommend it as it can increase anxiety and doesn’t work as well as folic or folinic."

Just to cover that : The facebook group admins are wrong, methylfolate should work just as well (or better) than folic acid. Not everyone has the methylfolate side effect of increasing anxiety, but folinic acid is an option if methyfolate does cause that side effect.

[Canadian77]

I am taking 5 mg daily as per the PA facebook group protocol, I had loose stools in beginning, better now. But that could have been from the autoimmune gastritis.

I inject EOD B12

My folate level is now 46 and B12 is the max to what they measure in Canada.

[ClaireWF1346]

I am also on 5mg folic acid EOD when I inject and I haven't had this side effect. I hope it clears up soon for you!

[Hockey_player]

Iron infusions can cause diarrhea.

[Chickens44 in reply to Hockey_player]

I do wonder if it was that. It was only a week ago I had my infusion.