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/Nitrous Oxide Message-ID: <627@bbncca.ARPA> Date: Sat, 17-Mar-84 20:31:44 EST Article-I.D.: bbncca.627 Posted: Sat Mar 17 20:31:44 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 18-Mar-84 01:43:06 EST References: <210@metheus.UUCP> <220@metheus.UUCP> Organization: Bolt, Beranek and Newman, Cambridge, Ma. Lines: 26 >If you use NO regularly you might seriously consider taking >supplements of B-12 and getting your blood checked once in a >while (when you see your doctor ASK THEM TO CHECK FOR THIS). If you used NO regularly, you'd be DEAD! Nitrogen oxide, NO, quickly turns to nitrogen dioxide, NO2, which combines with water to produce nitric acid. Howard, you might know a bit about nutrition, but remind me to get another anesthesiologist! :-) Nitrous oxide is N2O, and is fairly inert, which brings me to my next question... I'd be very interested to hear the references on nitrous oxide-induced B-12 deficiency. I hadn't heard of this effect, as late as the 1980 Goodman and Gilman, but more research (and recreational use) may have uncovered something. Lastly, how much folic acid do you want? In my teenage days as a pharmacy clerk, I clearly remember that a common prescription-only dosage strength of folic acid was 5mg/tablet. This was available from Lederle, and probably from many other generic suppliers. I don't see why a nutritionally-informed doctor would not prescribe this, to be used with whatever other vitamins you might have. The cost shouldn't be too much. -- /Steve Dyer {decvax,linus,ima}!bbncca!sdyer sdyer@bbncca.ARPA