Vitamin B12 And Folic Acid

Vitamin B12 and folic acid function together in such metabolic processes as the methylation of choline and amino acid conversion.

It is recommended that a person not take individual supplements without first taking a very good multivitamin mineral. Then you can supplement that with B12 and folic acid. You cannot put up the walls and roof of a house unless a foundation is properly laid first.

Singular supplementation can actually create deficiencies. For example, if you are only taking one of a single B vitamin and are not getting the whole complex of the B vitamins, you can cause a deficiency in the one that has not been supplemented. If you take calcium and do not take magnesium along with it, then you can create a calcium imbalance. Get the picture? So take your multivitamin first and then take your vitamin B12 and folic acid.

Why are Vitamin B12 and folic acid so very important? There are really two reasons:

• There are many drugs that people now take which serve to deplete them or that interfere with their absorption.
• If you are deficient in either of these two things, it can go undetected and lead to great damage and suffering.

B12 and folic acid are addressed together because you cannot supplement one without also supplementing the other. Here are the reasons why:

• If a Vitamin B12 deficiency exists and just the folic acid is taken, some of the clues and blood changes may be masked indicating a B12 deficiency. This can allow progressive and irreversible brain damage, spinal cord damage and damage to the peripheral nerves. Also, in order to use Vitamin B12 properly, folic acid must be present.
• Most of the same factors help to contribute to deficiencies of Vitamin B12 and folic acid.

Most people with stomach and other GI tract disturbances are at risk from being deficient in Vitamin B12 and folic acid, no matter if it be from inflammatory diseases, parasites, low stomach acid, intestinal malabsorption, chronic diarrhea, tapeworms, gastrectomy, or the depletion of the “intrinsic factor”. All in all, there are twelve different inherited disorders that affect transport, absorption or intracellular metabolism of Vitamin B12.

As a person ages, they become greater risk factors because the absorption of B12 is known to decrease as the person gets older. They also may be low in folic acid, calcium, iron and Vitamin B6 which all help to contribute to the depletion of B12.

Therefore, it is wise to take sublingual vitamin b12 folic acid as they are both needed for the metabolism of homocysteine. This may contribute to a decrease in both disease and death in the United States by assisting in reducing the amount of accumulated homocysteine in the blood.

• Food Sources Containing Folic Acid - Folic Acid Food Sources
  
  Folic Acid food sources. The absence of folic acid in our system can cause preventable deformities and diseases. The United States government requires folic acid fortification of all breads, flours, corn meal, rice, noodles and pasta.
• Folic Acid and Pregnancy
  
  Folic Acid and Pregnany and its benefits. Many expectant parents are learning the many benefits that folic acid plays in pregnancy.
• Folic Acid Benefits
  
  Folic Acid benefits. Folic Acid is now known to be nourishing to the brain. A lack of it can cause certain types of anemia. It helps your body manufacture red blood cells.
• Folic Acid Side Effects
  
  Folic Acid side effects. Because folic acid is water soluble, humans must replenish the supply daily. A lack of this vitamin in the diet can cause certain types of anemia.