B12 and Folate: I have tried to find info on... - Thyroid UK

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B12 and Folate

Yoll profile image
Yoll
6 Replies

I have tried to find info on folates but it always takes me back to B12 deficiency .

Every time I have a blood test my folate are in the low side and B12 in the upper range.

B12 - 545 (191-663)

folate 9.5 (4.5 -37.3)

the consultant (for my geographic tongue) thought this should be looked at the GP not concerned at all

does this imbalance matter? Or is it OK

I was supplementing with complex B but have stopped for the moment as I was told I need to stop for at least 4 months to have a true reading

any thoughts would be welcome

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Yoll
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SeasideSusie profile image
SeasideSusieRemembering

Yoll

I was supplementing with complex B but have stopped for the moment as I was told I need to stop for at least 4 months to have a true reading

Stopping for 4-5 months is to get a true measure of how much B12 your body is holding on to.

Your folate level is low but it's not classed as deficiency.

Have you tried supplementing with a methylfolate supplement? Maybe use this alongside a B Complex. The amount of folate in a B Complex is usually 400mcg. You could buy a methylfolate supplement which I think you might be able to get at a dose of 1,000mcg, or maybe just add a 400mcg methylfolate supplement to your B Complex. Maybe trial one bottle of methylfolate alongside the B Complex then retest to see if it's helped.

Yoll profile image
Yoll in reply to SeasideSusie

thank you so much for your answer, I will supplement, as recommended. I wanted to know if this imbalance could cause some issue with my health as I am still having symptoms but I don't know which problem they are associated with.

Hypothyroid/ post menopause/ low saliva cortisol

I have been referred back to the endo I'm hoping someone might be able to join the dots

humanbean profile image
humanbean

Some info on folate :

methyl-life.com/blogs/mthfr...

takecareof.com/articles/ben...

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levom...

I linked the above because I think it is important for people to be aware of the names of the things they take. I've been reading about nutrients for years, and I had never heard of Levomefolic Acid (which I saw given in the ingredients list of a supplement), only to read that it is just another name for methylfolate.

healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...

Yoll profile image
Yoll

thank you for the information I will supplement with methyl folate.

CoeliacMum1 profile image
CoeliacMum1

bda.uk.com/food-health/food...

The link above is what most (NHS) Medical healthcare professionals will provide you with … I have been given the Folic acid & Vitamin D links as been deficient, I have various absorption issues.

Your level isn’t low enough to warrant any investigation re NHS … I was below 4 before given 4 months of folic acid… mines still below yours and not considered a problem, however …You may find dietitian and other healthcare providers may not know much about the methyl forms of B vitamins …it is better absorbed I’ve been told and if you can find a good nutritionist they could probably provide you with more individual requirements and evidence based information on the methyl folate v folic acid.

Yoll profile image
Yoll in reply to CoeliacMum1

thank you all for the info, I have bought Methyl Folate, I will keep checking . I'm still waiting for my zinc results. I will see the doc in 2 weeks so will have another chat!

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