Taking folic acid at high doses can hide a vitamin B12 deficiency. So these vitamins are often taken together.
Check vitamin B12 levels in all people before starting folic acid — treatment can improve wellbeing, mask underlying B12 deficiency, and allow neurological disease to develop. Give dietary advice about foods that are a good source of folic acid — good sources of folate include: Asparagus. Broccoli.
Vitamin C and B12
It's not advised to take vitamin C and vitamin B-12 at the same time, says Litt. That's because high doses of vitamin C can reduce the amount of vitamin B-12 that's absorbed and metabolized by the body, she says. Be sure to take vitamin C at least two hours after vitamin B-12.
Both folic acid and vitamin B12 are essential for health. But when taken together, these B vitamins may interact with each other. You shouldn't take more than 1,000 micrograms (mcg.)
Folic acid can also affect the way other medicines work. Do not take your folic acid within 2 hours before or after taking indigestion remedies (antacids containing aluminium or magnesium), as they may stop the folic acid being properly absorbed.
Before you start taking folic acid, your GP will check your vitamin B12 levels to make sure they're normal. This is because folic acid treatment can sometimes improve your symptoms so much that it masks an underlying vitamin B12 deficiency.
Folate must not be used alone in undiagnosed megaloblastic anaemia due to the risk of B12 deficiency leading to peripheral neuropathy.
According to health experts at Click Pharmacy, as a general rule of thumb, take your B vitamins in the morning or with a meal. Vitamin B12, for example, should definitely be taken in the morning. This is because it is important for energy metabolism, which may interrupt your sleep if taken at night.
It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. If you have hydroxocobalamin injections to boost your vitamin B12 levels at the start of treatment, the cyanocobalamin tablets may start to work within a few days.
The importance of the B vitamins folate and vitamin B12 for healthy neurological development and function is unquestioned. Folate and vitamin B12 are required for biological methylation and DNA synthesis. Vitamin B12 also participates in the mitochondrial catabolism of odd-chain fatty acids and some amino acids.
As summarized in the table provided, vitamin B12 (cobalamin) absorption and utilization by the body can be compromised with the chronic use of certain medications which include: colchicine, chloramphenicol, ethanol, histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2RA), metformin, and proton pump inhibitors (PPI).
Folic Acid + B Vitamins
A combination of both Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 are essential to form healthyred blood cells. Folic acid also works well when combined with B6 and B12 for the maintenance of normal blood homocysteine levels.
Causes of a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
a lack of these vitamins in your diet – this is uncommon, but can happen if you have a vegan diet and do not take vitamin B12 supplements or eat foods fortified with vitamin B12 , follow a restrictive diet or have a generally poor diet for a long time.
Fatigue. Megaloblastic anemia due to vitamin B-12 deficiency may lead to a person feeling fatigued. Without enough red blood cells to carry oxygen around their body, a person can feel extremely tired.
People with vitamin B12 deficiency can have neurological symptoms and/or damage without anemia (lack of red blood cells). General physical symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency can include: Feeling very tired or weak. Experiencing nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.
Thus if you're otherwise healthy but still continue to feel tired after taking a B-12 supplement, it could be a sign of a mild allergic reaction. If a rash, difficulty breathing or swelling coincides with taking your dose of B-12, get to the doctor right away.
Vitamin B12 is considered safe even in large doses. Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Vitamin B12 is likely safe when taken by mouth during pregnancy or breast-feeding in the amounts recommended. The recommended amount for pregnancy is 2.6 mcg per day. Those breast-feeding should take 2.8 mcg per day.
Can I take magnesium and vitamin B together? Yes, as B vitamins and magnesium don't compete for absorption inside your body. Indeed, many supplements combine them as a way of simplifying how you monitor your intake.
Because B12 is a water-soluble vitamin, it doesn't require a fat source for absorption, which means you can take it on an empty stomach 30 minutes before eating or two hours after a meal.
If a woman has enough folic acid in her body before she is pregnant, it can help prevent major birth defects of her baby's brain and spine. These birth defects are neural tube defects or NTDs. Women need to take folic acid every day, starting before they are pregnant to help prevent NTDs.
Vitamin B12 compliments proper brain development and function, as well as the functioning of blood cells and nerves. Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a water-soluble B vitamin.