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How Long Before A Folic Acid Blood Test Should Supplements Be Discontinued?
Question: How long before doing a folic acid blood test should I stop taking supplements and B complex supplement for accurate results?
Brief Answer:
Straight away or 3 day break
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome
I appreciate your concern
1) For folic acid , serum levels fluctuate with supplementation. Hence you should ask for RBC Folate levels that aren't affected by acute rise and fall and is a better test.
2) For B 12 , if the MMA ( Methyl malonic acid ) and Homocysteine are normal then even lower range B 12 are acceptable and don't require further treatment.
You can get tested for both straight away or after 3 days break from the supplement.
Wishing you best of health
Thanks
Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.
For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107
Dr. M.S. Khalil
Straight away or 3 day break
Detailed Answer:
Hello and Welcome
I appreciate your concern
1) For folic acid , serum levels fluctuate with supplementation. Hence you should ask for RBC Folate levels that aren't affected by acute rise and fall and is a better test.
2) For B 12 , if the MMA ( Methyl malonic acid ) and Homocysteine are normal then even lower range B 12 are acceptable and don't require further treatment.
You can get tested for both straight away or after 3 days break from the supplement.
Wishing you best of health
Thanks
Please consult your doctor before deciding on any further course of action.
For future follow up / correspondence you may ask me directly at the link given below
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68107
Dr. M.S. Khalil
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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