Table of Contents
- 1 Does folic acid affect B12 levels?
- 2 How does B12 deficiency affect folate?
- 3 Is folate needed for B12 absorption?
- 4 Is folate and B12 the same thing?
- 5 Is folic acid and vitamin B12 the SAMe thing?
- 6 Does folic acid help with B12 deficiency?
- 7 Why does vitamin B12 need intrinsic factor?
- 8 What are the benefits of taking folic acid with B12?
- 9 What can deplete B12?
Does folic acid affect B12 levels?
High intakes of folic acid may mask a vitamin B12 deficiency. In turn, this could increase your risk of brain and nervous system damage.
How does B12 deficiency affect folate?
The interrelationship between these two vitamins is best explained by the methyl trap hypothesis stating that vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to lowered levels of methionine synthetase, which results in a functional folate deficiency by trapping an increased proportion of folate as the 5-methyl derivative.
How does B12 and folic acid work together?
Folate and B12 work together to produce S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe), a compound involved in immune function and mood. Vitamins B12, B6, and B9 work together to control blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine. High levels of homocysteine are associated with heart disease.
Is folate needed for B12 absorption?
Harvard health professionals add that folate enhances the absorption of vitamin B12, a nutrient found naturally “in meat, eggs, milk, and other foods of animal origin.” While getting all of the necessary vitamins and minerals is important to overall health, this particular vitamin carries some major importance all on …
Is folate and B12 the same thing?
Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is found in foods from animals, such as red meat, fish, poultry, milk, yogurt, and eggs. Folate (Vitamin B9) refers to a natural occurring form of the vitamin, whereas folic acid refers to the supplement added to foods and drinks.
What is the relationship between folate and cobalamin?
Folate and cobalamin interact with each other in the methionine cycle via the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine [10]. This process is important for folate retention, DNA synthesis and subsequent production of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) [10, 11].
Is folic acid and vitamin B12 the SAMe thing?
Folic acid/folate and vitamin B12 are two B vitamins that are necessary for both the production of red blood cells and for the utilization of iron. Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin found in meat, fish and dairy, and can be taken in the form of a supplement.
Does folic acid help with B12 deficiency?
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.
What is folic acid and why is it important?
Folic acid is a man-made form of a B vitamin called folate. Folate plays an important role in the production of red blood cells and helps your baby’s neural tube develop into their brain and spinal cord. The best food sources of folic acid are fortified cereals.
Why does vitamin B12 need intrinsic factor?
Intrinsic factor binds to vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is needed for red blood cells to form and grow. Some people do not make enough intrinsic factor or have a condition that destroys it. If your body does not make enough intrinsic factor, you can develop a type of vitamin B12 deficiency called pernicious anemia.
What are the benefits of taking folic acid with B12?
Maintenance of the optimal levels of B vitamins to aid cardiovascular health.
What medications cause B12 deficiency?
Proton pump inhibitors. Examples include omeprazole, esomeprazole and lansoprazole. With either medication, the risk of B-12 deficiency was significantly increased when taken daily for two years or more, and in doses averaging more than 1.5 pills daily versus less than 0.75 pills daily.
What can deplete B12?
According to UMMC several pharmaceutical drugs can also deplete B-12, these include anti-inflammatory medications like prednisone and hydrocortisone, certain antibiotics, the barbiturate phenobarbital, certain antidiabetic medication, birth control and cardiovascular medication.