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Folate deficiency

Posted , 2 users are following.

mitch83295
mitch83295

Hi.

Am just after some advice. I got a call from my doctors surgery to come and collect a prescription of folic acid. I had had some bloods done a few days previous and was told they showed up a folate deficiency. I have to take a 5mg tablet once a day for 3 months then be reviewed. I am 53 and relatively fit and healthy. Why would i be deficient and what does it mean. Any advice would be great.

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy mitch83295

    Posted

    I seem to be deficient in folic acid too. I was given 5mg a day and I just happened to have a blood test a couple of days later and my folates had shot up from deficient to too high. My GP had said ‘no action’ on the report so I found another GP. She changed the prescription to a tiny amount and I am having a blood test soon to see if that is a better amount. Apparently a lot of people do not absorb folic acid that well, that is why they give folic acid to pregnant women. 
    • mitch83295
      mitch83295 ptolemy

      Posted

      Thanks for the reply. Can i ask were you getting any symptoms when your levels were low only i feel fine and wondered why i would need them.
    • ptolemy
      ptolemy mitch83295

      Posted

      No, I have not had any symptoms, although I do get the PMR fatigue which may be partly due to lack of folic acid I suppose, I just happened to have my folates checked as part of my blood tests. Perhaps I am not including enough folic acid in my diet! My reading was 1.3 I then took just 5mg two days running and it went up to 20mg. Low folic acid can lead to anaemia. 
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