Folic acid dose at night?

[Chickens44]

Does anyone take their folic acid at night, then do the B12 injection the next morning. Just wondered if that would work so the folate is ready in the body to help the B12 absorption?

[PlatypusProfit8077]

I only take 500mcg folic and I do it at dinner (with a meal) on the day I’m doing an injection.

It takes about an hour for uptake so I usually do my injection about an hour or two after the tablet. It’s working quite well.

[Technoid]

Folate has no effect on B12 absorption.

[wedgewood in reply to Technoid]

I’ve now looked into this and you are right . But we have always been led to believe that patients with B12 deficiency / P.A. should supplement with folic acid/ B9 , as well as B12.

[Bellabab in reply to wedgewood]

Folates play a role in how B12 functions within the body rather than help B12 be absorbed.

[Technoid in reply to wedgewood]

It really depends on whether a folate deficiency exists and adequate folate is available and absorbed from the diet. Folate is important to the metabolism of B12 so folate supplementation is often advised "just in case" the diet is poor or absorption is not very good and especially in the early stages of B12 deficiency treatment. But once the B12 deficiency has been corrected, and diet and absorption are ok, there's no particular need to supplement folate, especially in large doses. 400mcg of folic acid is not going to do any harm but its not absolutely necessary long-term if the diet is good and absorption is ok. A few regular blood tests would help to indicate the need or lack thereof.

I don't know of a reason why having PA or injecting B12 regularly would increase the normal folate requirement. If diet or absorption are poor though, then supplementation would be advisable to keep levels up.

[wedgewood in reply to Technoid]

Thank you very much . That explanation is really helpful . It clears up a misunderstanding that I had . It makes sense .