B12 deficiency and low Folate

[Fruitcake61]

Hi .. sorry also meant to ask this in my earlier post. I have also been advised that having a low folate reading (2.7) on blood test results can ‘elevate’ B12 readings which is perhaps why my GP didn’t feel need to treat B12. Is this correct?

[Nackapan]

It didn't for my daughter and I.Both had low B12 and low Folate ??

Low ferritin ( can be raised with inflamation in the body)

Low vit D

Megobolastic anaemia ( daughter)

Read uo on the folate trap.

Perhaps that was what your adviser meant ?

B12 was treated first. Then my daughter had a short course of high dose folic acid .(5mg)

I had 400mcg folic acid daily after b12 injections started.

G.ps don't understand B12.

My first ever b12 blood test was

106pg/l ( 200-900)

One G.p stated not that low must be a 'red herring ' for my severe symptoms.???

Would never sign a prescription for my B12??

But nothing else found to treat.

Still had to wait weeks for b12 loading doses to start.( I booked them in !!)

Saw 6 G.ps until one ordered all of the tests in the first place.

Try and see another G.p .

Or s specialist referral depending on symptoms.

My daughter saw gastroenterologist .

Neurologist and cardiologist.

It was a general medicine consultant in A and E that started to join the dots.

Your symptoms are the most important .

You can be deficient and 'in range ' too.

Functional b12 deficiency is usually diagnosed by further tests.

MMA and occasionally homocysteine usually done in a hosputal .

Elimination by doing as many tests as possible

[MorningMist]

In a way yes, insofar as b12 needs folate to be metabolised. I had off the scale folate at the beginning (23+) and low b12. When I began b12 injections my folate reduced to about 15. So you could assume folate deficiency will leave unmetabolised b12 in the blood and that adequate folate will decease it as more b12 is used up.

It doesn’t mean that your b12 is ok though, just that without enough folate it can’t be absorbed properly. But I really doubt that your gp is aware of/interested in this. Low and under range b12 levels are commonly ignored.