Folic Acid is a vital nutrient that is found in many foods such as green leafy vegetables, citrus fruit, and beans. It is also taken in pill or capsule form by many women of conception age to prevent birth defects, and it is added to most multivitamins. It is hard to overdose on folic acid from food. High doses of up to 1,000 mcg can be taken in pill form because it is a water soluble vitamin and is excreted through urine if the body cannot use it. Certain pregnant women with a history of birth defects can even take doses up to 4,000 mcg to prevent a recurrence. However, there are very serious risks associated with taking folic acid for some people.
Pernicious Anemia is a form of anemia caused by a deficiency in vitamin B12, if left untreated it can cause permanent nerve damage throughout the body. People who take folic acid and have this condition will not feel the tell-tale symptoms, which may seem ideal. However the B12 deficiency can still be causing damage to the body even without the symptoms.
Symptoms of Pernicious Anemia
Fatigue
Dizziness
Weakness
Numbness in hands and feet
Decreased appetite, or appetite for items that are not food (pica)
Pale skin
Diarrhea
Increased heart rate
Treatment is simple once pernicious anemia is diagnosed, it can be as straight forward as vitamin B12 supplementation through shots or pills. However if a patient is covering up the initial symptoms by taking folic acid, they may never be tested and irreversible nerve damage can occur.
For people who have had symptoms of anemia, or have a genetic propensity towards it and also take folic acid may want to set up an appointment with the experts of blood cancers Concord in Concord to get their levels checked because it is better safe than have permanent nerve damage from an illness whose symptoms are hidden by folic acid. Levels should be rechecked sporadically as well for those who are likely to develop a B12 deficiency.