B12 shots with folic acid

[Jimboz]

So, I was diagnosed with b12 and folic acid defficiency due to a bowel resection I had. GP has put me on 12 weekly Hydroxocobalamin 1mg IM injections as well as folic acid 5mg 3 month course. He warned me not to take the folic acid till a month after my first b12 jab. I was just wondering with it being a 3 month course will it clash with my second jab?

Sorry if it sounds like a stupid question but I am just trying to understand this properly.

Thanks

Zap

[Jillymo]

Hello,

I hope the surgery went well.

With regard your question there is no interaction between the folic acid and B12.

I wish you all the best and a speady recovery.

[Jimboz in reply to Jillymo]

Surgery went better than expected thanks, no stoma thank god, the resection was done before the cancer had a chance of spreading. So yep very lucky indeed

[Nackapan in reply to Jimboz]

Good . Hope x good recovery B12 is treated first .

Sl no worries with then taking youf folic acid af the same time as second b12 injection.

Your folic acid should then be tested after thd short high dose course.

A maintenance dose is usually 400 mcg a day oc folic acid afterwards if levels okay.

[Jillymo in reply to Jimboz]

Thats wonderful news just remember to take it steady and dont over do things. I have issues in that region too my gastrologist phoning me today so lets keep fingers crossed i'm not in need of surgery. 🤞

[Jimboz in reply to Jillymo]

I truely hope its good news for you, I was very lucky that I had a GP who was on the ball and caught it early.

[Technoid]

"He warned me not to take the folic acid till a month after my first b12 jab"

This seems a strange warning considering you are folate deficient. He might be thinking of the claim that folic acid without B12 has been claimed (in very old case reports) to aggravate B12 neuropathy. I think the theory has poor evidence behind it but from a metabolic perspective it makes sense to have them both available to the body at the same time.

B12 without folate won't do what it needs to do and folate without B12 has the same problem. I'm simplifying because there are other important nutrients involved but folate and B12 are very co-dependent in their function.

I was warned to take folic acid 24 hours after the first B12 injection. I think this is a precaution based on weak evidence but I suppose it doesnt hurt and certainly won't do any harm. There is no clear reasoning that I can think of to leave a folate deficiency entirely untreated for a month while trying to treat B12. That would be kind of like pouring water furiously into a bucket with a hole in it. Waste of B12 in my opinion. All the B12 that arrives will just be mooching about aimlessly (so to speak) waiting for enough folate to arrive to get the job done, instead of getting right to work.

Maybe he has some kind of good reasoning behind the 1 month delay but it seems entirely counter-productive to me on the face of it.

[LynneG]

Hi Jimboz,

I personally do not like the lab created folic acid which the NHS prescribe (because as always, it's cheaper) Not everyone can convert folic acid to folate which is what your body needs and recognizes. When I became folate deficient last year, I said no thanks to the GP and bought my own . The active form L-Methyl Folate. (not expensive)

But please ask for your Homocysteine blood level to be checked asap. Homocysteine is a natural product of us digesting food aka Protein. However consider it poisonous to our system. But the body has it all in hand as it is depleted by the methylation system in our bodies - B12 and folate

If you become deficient in B12 or folate, Homocysteine levels will rise. My homocysteine blood level when I became deficient in only folate went off the charts at abnormal high 14. Normal range highest 10. Ideal level 6.5-7

Simply put, high homocysteine levels damage the heart and brain. Aim for an ideal level of 7. 9 and 10 are too high even though classed as within normal range. Normal range just means this is the average range to be found in the population. Not a healthy population or a healthy level. Always aim for the ideal healthy level with all blood tests. Google website 'Food For the Brain' search bar - homocysteine.

If you find your level is not 'ideal' you can take a supplement . I took

Seeking Health Homocyste X plus (amazon) then have Homocysteine levels tested in a few months. My folate levels returned to 20 (thats the level they record if replete. and homocysteine had fallen to 6.5. The supplement does contain methyl B12 but a little extra can't harm

Please note, you have to go to the hospital to have homocysteine level tested. The phlebothamy dept where they draw blood all day every day. no need for appointment. Just pop in. This is because your blood needs to be in their lab to be tested within the hour. Ask your GP to request on your computer record and take your NHS or hospital no with you for the phlebothamist to access. Any other blood test you need can be taken at the same time if your GP requests on your file. Blood tests always best in the morning before eating or drinking anything but water. Make sure well hydrated after the night.

Make sure supplements and B12 not taken for a couple of days before the blood draw or these will just be being recorded in your blood

Phone your local hospital/s to make sure they test homocysteine. Not all do. We have 2 main hospitals in our city. One does, one doesn't.

Hope this helps x