Vitamin B-12 and vitamin B-9, also known as folate, are among the water-soluble vitamins that make up vitamin B complex. B vitamins are used in energy production and red blood cell formation, and are available from a variety of food sources. If you are deficient in any of the B vitamins, you may suffer from negative health repercussions like anemia and nerve damage. Your doctor may order diagnostic tests to make sure you have the proper amount of B-12 and folate in your body.
B-12
In addition to red blood cell formation, B-12 is necessary for the synthesis of DNA and the proper maintenance of a healthy nervous system. B-12 is only present in animal-based food source, such as meat, eggs, poultry and milk, thus vegans can be at risk of B-12 deficiency unless they eat foods fortified with this nutrient. People with gastrointestinal disorders can also be at risk of B-12 deficiency due to an inability to properly absorb the nutrient from foods they eat.
Folate
Folate is used in the metabolism of DNA and amino acids, which are your body's protein building blocks. Folate is found in leafy green vegetables, and a synthetic form, called folic acid, is available as a nutritional supplement. The Linus Pauling Institute states that a deficiency in folate can increase your risk of heart disease. Women are advised to make sure they're obtaining enough dietary folate before becoming pregnant and during the early months of pregnancy, in order to decrease the risk of neural tube defects in their unborn children. Folate deficiency can also cause megaloblastic anemia.
Excess Folate Masks B-12 Deficiency
Maintaining an adequate, but not overly excessive, level of folate in your bloodstream is important in that getting too much folate can hide the symptoms of B-12 deficiency. When a B-12 deficiency causes megaloblastic anemia, high dosages of folate may correct those hematological symptoms and make it appear that the problem has been resolved. However, the neurological damage caused by B-12 deficiency cannot be cured with folate, and if excessive folate has masked the signs of B-12 deficiency, the patient may not get the help she needs until after permanent nerve damage has occurred
Testing for B-12 and Folate
Megaloblastic anemia is detected when a CBC, or complete blood count has been performed and has revealed the presence of abnormally large red blood cells. When you have megaloblastic anemia, your doctor may order a serum vitamin B-12 and folate test to help diagnose the cause, according to LabTestsOnline. This test can be ordered to evaluate the presence of one or both of these nutrients. If your doctor believes you have a B-12 deficiency, further tests may be ordered to determine what has caused it. This might entail a Schilling test, which is used to detect pernicious anemia. The same condition can also be evaluated via a test for intrinsic factor binding antibodies, or parietal cell antibodies.
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