Internist Questions Folic Acid

Folic acid levels went down - why?

Recently I got my bloodwork done and was informed my levels of folic acid were low. I have no idea why this would be. Everything else was fine. I take B12 and D supplements daily because those were low in the past.

4 Answers

If you are not taking any medication that can reduce your folic acid level, it could be a folic acid deficiency. Ask your doctor to get a CBC (complete blood count) or you can see a specialist such as a hematologist to find the cause of it.
You need to take methylated folic acid since it is high absorb-able form. 1mg of folic acid is enough per day. Also eat lots green vegetables to increase folic acid in your bloodstream.
Most people that do not eat green vegetables get Folic acid and B-12 low. While Folic acid can be consumed in the form of tablet once a day, B-12 is given by intramuscular injections every month.
Folic acid comes from plants and vegetables. Increase those in your diet, you can also take over-the-counter folic acid. Some medications can also interfere with folic acid absorption. Also, do not overcook foods as this takes away the folic acid.