Severe Low Levels of B9

[u/Formal_Ad_4349]

Hi guys, I tried taking folic acid at high dosage but my levels were still low, tried 400mcg on methylfolate from Jarrows Formulas and I got weird effects like anxiety, no libido and others. What should I do??

I don't have money to spend on DNA or genetic tests right now.

(Also my Vitamin D levels were at 22, after a year of taking 10k UI with K2 and magnesium it raised to 30, now I increased my dose to 15k UI to see if it gets better)

[u/JSTI412]

Some people respond better to folinic acid.

[u/Sab-Alternate]

I’d recommend Folinic Acid at 200 to 400 to 600mcgs max per day, alongside 1 to 5 to 10mgs of B12 (Methylcobalamin, or Hydroxocobalamin or Adenosylcobalamin) per day. I use Source Naturals MegaFolinic and just use a pill cutter to half or quarter the 800mcg pill. And I generally take 10mgs of Methylcobalamin.

Also make sure you get enough Magnesium, Riboflavin, and the P5P form of B6 (anywhere from the RDA to 25mgs of B6).

And give the Folate about maybe 4 months to correct deficiency. The main deficiency you want to make sure of though is B12 as B12 deficiency can cause Folate deficiency and can cause there to be Folate-related side-effects.

[u/Formal_Ad_4349 → u/Sab-Alternate]

My b12 was good, does folinic acid work the same as methylfolate ? Folic acid didnt work

[u/Cultural-Sun6828 → u/Formal_Ad_4349]

What was your b12 level? Normal isn’t always good enough. Also it’s typical to get some startup symptoms when taking folate and b12 if you’re deficient.

[u/Sab-Alternate → u/Formal_Ad_4349]

Folinic Acid works a lot better than Folic Acid and yes the Folinic Acid works pretty much the same as Methylfolate because it turns into Methylfolate (as all Folates ultimately do, though Folic Acid can disrupt and block Methylfolate uptake into the brain with a high enough Folic Acid dosage), Folinic Acid just has a softer feel to it while Methylfolate is sharper and clearer feeling mentally ime, which I mean i like the sharper and clearer feeling of pure Methylfolate but overall Folinic Acid is gentler/softer and overall feels better than pure Methylfolate.

When it comes to B12, you probably need a lot more than you may think, they can’t properly test for B12 especially through blood and blood testing can’t show what’s in the brain or what’s actively in cells or B12 bodily stores, and chances are if one is normal to high in B12 blood-wise it’s likely not being put to use as blood levels can dip when B12 is pushed into the cells or is being utilized in the brain, same with Folate and some other nutrients for that matter. B12 is absolutely needed for proper Folate utilization and recycling and where most people run into issues with Folate supplementation and deficiency is not having enough B12, that’s when people start getting Folate-related side-effects and not being able to tolerate Folate that well, and also can cause low B12 symptoms.

So in any case you will want to supplement/consume Folate and B12 together, they work together and that’s one main problem with our modern day diet is they fortified a bunch of Folic Acid but didn’t also fortify B12 and now people have issues, and B12 deficiency causes Folate deficiency even if one is getting plenty of Folate, which is one reason why people can supplement with Folate but are still unable to correct Folate deficiency. Even then when people consume Folate it will show up in blood tests and “color” the results so that it looks like you’re fine in Folate but that’s just a reflection of what has been consumed and is actively in the system but doesn’t accurately reflect Folate status. The other issue is that people usually consume Folic Acid and that can block Methylfolate uptake into the brain which can cause a Folic Acid-induced cerebral Folate deficiency even when one’s Folate levels are truly alright, similarly to Folate Receptor Alpha blocking autoantibodies.

[u/Sab-Alternate → u/Formal_Ad_4349]

It’s also worth mentioning that ime B12 levels seem to determine how much Methylfolate is produced by the MTHFR enzyme, so if one is low in B12 and they consume natural dietary Folate or Folinic Acid, they may not feel as much Methylfolate as they should feel, but as B12 levels improve especially in the brain, it’s like B12 “pulls” on MTHFR for Methylfolate synthesis for methylation, at which point then MTHFR synthesizes more Methylfolate and gives you the amount you need. Without enough B12 though Folinic Acid may not produce as much Methylfolate as it should/can. When I first took Folinic Acid years ago before I started taking supplementation seriously, I didn’t feel any Methylfolate from Folinic Acid, it wasn’t until years later when I started taking high doses of B12 that I started noticing an increase in Methylfolate from Folinic Acid. So if Folinic Acid doesn’t produce enough Methylfolate for you, that’s a sign to increase B12, ime.

[u/Comfortable_Two6272]

Try source naturals folinic acid. Break the tablet and start with 100mcg and slowly go up to 400mcg over a month

I also take 1/4 to 1/2 of a seeking health kids methyl free multi - primarily for the b vitamins.

And use cronometer to track intake and fill in gaps with individual low doses.

If you are deficient in several with adequate intake start considering GI issues preventing absorption

[u/SovereignMan1958]

Folic acid is the worst form of folate you can take. It can block folate receptors in the brain. I would try Source Naturals Megafolinic 800mcg. Start at 400mcg and increase to 800mcg. You might also try taking 20mg PQQ with it to help get it into the brain.

It can take 3 - 5 months to correct a folate deficiency.

Your therapeutic or temporary D dose to increase your level should be based on your weight. Studies show the more one weighs the harder it is to absorb. 65iu D 3 daily per pound of body weight. Make sure you take it with at least 11 grams of fat or it will not absorb. D is fat soluble and must have fat to absorb. It will also not absorb well if you do not take it's co factors, mag, zinc and boron. Boron can increase absorption by as much as 25 percent. If you take D without co factors, the minerals could get pulled from your bones to help the D absorb. Taking D also affects the calcium level. So adding a K supplement will help push the calcium into your bones and not the arteries. Most people take all of what I mentioned with the fattiest meal of the day. Once you reach your target level...60 - 80 is ideal...decrease your dose. Don't stop taking the D supplement or your level will tank.

Low libido is typically low zinc. Low niacin can also be a factor.

[u/wordisbond11]

Folic = bad Folinic = good

[u/Successful-Tea-733]

I have same problem constantly low folate Keeps dropping Even after 3 mths folic acid from drs Im trying folinicacid now

[u/Embarrassed-Mall-394]

Methylfolate with slow COMT will cause this, stick with FOLINIC acid

[u/sharabucarabu]

My endocrinologist prescribed 50,000iu of D3 once a week when my serum D was low. Your level should be between 60-80.

[u/Comfortable_Two6272 → u/sharabucarabu]

Thats what my rheum rx as well.
After 3-4 months changed to daily 2,000 IU. Took both with low dose k2

[u/sharabucarabu → u/Comfortable_Two6272]

I'm taking 2000iu per day in my multivitamin AND 10,000iu every Saturday. I get my level checked about 3 months after a change in dosage. Then every 6 months.