Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site bbncca.ARPA Path: utzoo!linus!bbncca!sdyer From: sdyer@bbncca.ARPA (Steve Dyer) Newsgroups: net.med Subject: Re: Folic Acid Message-ID: <612@bbncca.ARPA> Date: Tue, 6-Mar-84 09:49:32 EST Article-I.D.: bbncca.612 Posted: Tue Mar 6 09:49:32 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 7-Mar-84 00:22:36 EST References: <210@metheus.UUCP> Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma. Lines: 19 Yes, folic acid can "mask" development of B-12 deficiency, and as such is limited to 0.4mg per over-the-counter supplement. This restriction protects those people who will develop pernicious anemia, a condition where B-12 cannot be absorbed by the digestive system even in VERY large doses. This explains the FDA's restriction regardless of the amount of B-12 in the supplement. B-12 deficiency develops very slowly and such a person who had the habit of taking milligram quantities of folic acid would probably end up with severe CNS damage by the time the deficiency had advanced sufficiently to break through the masking effect. Doctors know the importance of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy. Why doesn't your wife get a prescription for the vitamin (or a prescription-only multi-vitamic) instead of trying to "mix-and-match" with over-the-counter preparations? -- /Steve Dyer {decvax,linus,ima}!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca.ARPA