Study: Extra Folic Acid May Help Memory

AP ^ | Tue Jun 21, 2005 | LAURAN NEERGAARD, AP Medical Writer

[Pharmboy]

Harmless at that dosage; the only way this B-vitamin can do damage is to those people with B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia) because it can mask the anemia associated with ongoing B12 deficiency because folic acid can treat the anemia of B12 deficiency. If that happens, docs will not be able to diagnose the B12 problem which can lead to irreversible nerve damage (folic acid can not treat the nerve damage of B12 deficiency) over the long term (that's why higher doses of folic acid require a prescription).

That being said, supplemetal folate is a good idea.

[alloysteel]

So the encouragement for large doses of B12 will most probably be followed by cautions that its widespread use will result in increase of some obscure disorder in about 0.002% of the population, and its use must be restricted immediately, to "by prescription only".

[Now_is_The_Time]

Seems like one of these studies comes-out every week. No wonder the vitamin industry is raking-in $11 billion a year in the U.S.

[Pharmboy]

Perhaps I was not clear (it is a bit confusing). Masses doses of B12 appear harmless--it's the folic acid (which has some overlapping functions with B12)--that can hide some but not all the damage of B12 deficiency that can be the RARE bad actor here. Folic acid above 1 mg require a prescription and has needed the Rx since the 1950s or 1960s.

[martin_fierro]

That's nice.

What were we talking about?

[Pharmboy]

Actually, there have been more recent negative studies on vitamin E and vitamin C lately than positive ones. The studies are pretty good and are reported no matter where they fall. The unsubstantiated claims come not from scientists.

All in all, it is probably a good idea to take an RDA-level supplement a few times a week and extra folic acid at about the same rate.

[Pharmboy]

Don't forget to take your supplements...Hmmmm.

[Coldwater Creek]

Will this supplement help even if you are in your late 60's ? or is it too late????

[linkinpunk]

Now if I can only remember to take the pills.

[G.Mason]

"Experts recommend going for the triple-whammy of something mentally, physically and socially stimulating all at once:
Coach your child's ball team. Take a dance class. Strategize a round of golf."

May I suggest that should you find any of the above necessary to become "stimulated", either mentally, physically, or socially, you are married to the wrong person and you are destined for a fate far worse than death. ;)

"Always listen to EXPERTS. They'll tell you what can't be done and why. Then do it." ... Robert Heinlein

[Lazamataz]

Study: Extra Folic Acid May Help Memory

Now if I can only remember to take it.

[Lazamataz]

I hate you.

[linkinpunk]

You mean I finally was faster to post a witty comment than somebody else around here?

[Lazamataz]

You mean I finally was faster to post a witty comment than somebody else around here?

Yes, but those people who take my lines earn my eternal wrath.

I'm going to make your kitchen floor all scuffy and muddy and stuff.

[Fawnn]

Since about 2.5 years ago -- when I passed my cholesterol test, but flunked my c reactive protein, my doctor prescribed a folic acid/B-vitamin supplement; I believe it's called folgard. (Too lazy to look it up.)

Unfortunately, folgard (sp?) caused some digestive problems. He okayed my switching to TriVita sublingual B-12, B-6, & Folic Acid. It's my understanding that the B vitamins and folic acid are supposed to help offset inflamation problems. (I haven't notice anything miraculous occurring with my recall abilities though.) ;)

The downside is that the folgard was covered by my drug card; the TriVita stuff isn't.

[Pharmboy]

Folgard is a prescription and therefor covered. I would doubt very much that caused you any stomach upset (I am not doubting what you felt, I just am questioning the association between that and Folgard).

[Right Angler]

"You mean I finally was faster to post a witty comment than somebody else around here?"

That's a matter of opinion. LOL!

[Pharmboy]

The folic acid has been shown to lower the blood value of another risk factor--homocysteine--rather than the inflammatory (C-reactive protein) risk factor. Ask your doc what the homocysteine value was and how it responded (on repeat testing) to the folic acid.

[MaxMax]

Wives are good for memory recall also.

[Fawnn]

Thanks! (Except if I ask him, it'll remind him that he's upset with me because I didn't go for my follow-up test.) ;)