Folate, or vitamin B9, is found in dark, leafy green vegetables. In fact, the word "folate" is derived from "folium," a Latin word meaning "leaf" that's a relative of the word "foliage." Beans, salmon, milk and fruit also provide varying amounts of folate. Much focus on folate has centered on its ability to help prevent spina bifida in newborns, but getting too much folate can prevent an individual from getting help for a B12 deficiency, which can lead to neuropathy.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy refers to nerve damage. Your nervous system extends from your brain, down through your spinal cord and throughout your body through your peripheral nerves, which carry messages back and forth between your brain and body. Sensory information, motor control and organ function are all regulated by your nervous system. Nerve damage can cause several problems, depending on which nerves are affected.
Folate and B12
Both folate and vitamin B12 are involved in the formation of red blood cells. A deficiency in either of these nutrients can result in decreased red blood cell production, leading to a disorder called megaloblastic anemia. If you have megaloblastic anemia, you might feel weak and fatigued because your red blood cells are low in number, immature and abnormally large in size.
B12 and Nerve Damage
In addition to red blood cell formation, vitamin B12 is involved in the maintenance of your nervous system. A B12 deficiency can cause nerve damage that can sometimes be irreversible. Symptoms of neuropathy caused by B12 deficiency can include tingling in the extremities, difficulty walking and cognitive decline.
Excess Folate Masks B12 Deficiency
When daily dosages of folate above 1,000 mcg are used, they can hide the signs of anemia caused by B12 deficiency. Folic acid, the synthetic form of folate found in vitamin supplements, can cure the anemia, but does not address the neurological implications of a lack of B12. Because of this, those who take high doses of folic acid need to ensure that their B12 levels are adequate to avoid permanent nerve damage.
Dosages
Consult your doctor to find out whether you are taking the appropriate ratio of folate-to-B12. The average adult requires 2.4 mcg of B12 and 400 mcg of folate each day.
