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I had posted:
>>What I'm wondering is if the folic acid supplement could be responsible
for the relief or if the relief I received was due to the nap I took &
simply a coincidence that it was after taking the folic acid? Have any of
you had similar experiences with folic acid or other B vitamins? Any
opinions? <<
List mates, I'm convinced that the folic acid pill did it. I've
continued to improve on all fronts since I started using this supplement.
My muscles are more relaxed, I'm more energetic & I don't need as large
doses of potassium, magnesium and calcium to control leg cramps as I did
before starting folic acid supplements. Apparently folic acid is as
important to proper muscle tone as those other three nutrients which are
more commonly recommended for muscle cramps. I hit the books & internet
to find objective evidence that very quick relief is possible with folic
acid supplementation. Here's what I found:
I found something interesting in LANGE 2002 Current Medical Diagnosis &
Treatment about treating macrocytic (megaloblastic) anemia with vitamin
B12 and folic acid. Re B12 deficiency: "PATIENTS RESPOND TO THERAPY
WITH AN IMMEDIATE IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR SENSE OF WELL BEING." Re Folic
Acid deficiency: "THE RESPONSE IS SIMILAR TO THAT SEEN IN THE TREATMENT
OF VITAMIN B12 DEFICIENCY, WITH RAPID IMPROVEMENT AND A SENSE OF
WELL-BEING... "
On the internet (sorry, but I can't recall the reference) I read that
folic acid is vital to the immune system and nerve function. That would
explain why I've had several viral infections w/i the last month after
not having had so much as a sniffle for over the past year. That would
also explain why my muscles were tight & painful; my nerves weren't
properly stimulating them & relaxing them, so they became tight & sore.
And it lends credibility to my belief that that first folic acid pill
relieved my muscle pain & tension.
I also found in the writings of Dr. Jonathan Wright that folic acid is
"vital for keeping the cardiovascular system healthy by helping to reduce
levels of the amino acid homocysteine, and for proventing certain birth
defects (e.g., spina bifida). Folate levels [blood levels of folic acid]
tend to decline with advancing age, leading to a rise in homocysteine
levels that has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular
disease. Adequate folic acid intake (400 to 800) micrograms/day) easily
prevents these problems, but few people ingest enough of this vitamin in
their normal diet."
Sublingual folic acid and B12 have been found to be well absorbed in the
mouth. So if you are not as severely deficient as I was with B12 and am
with folic acid, sublingual tabs like Clara takes are probably enough for
you. I tried the NOW sublingual tabs as well as several other brands, but
I couldn't tolerate any of them. They all made my mouth break out. (I'm
allergic to the whole world!)
Citrus fruits, leafy greens & liver are very rich sources of folic acid.
But, be careful not to over cook as heat destroys it. As I recall, last
winter, I had been eating a whole grapefruit and liver almost every day.
Grapefruit went out of season & I got totally sick of liver. Soon after
that, I began to lose my edge little by little until I was totally
flattened with anemia. To think that all that misery could have been
prevented had I not changed my daily. I've added it back in & am
determined to eat liver at least twice a week in the future. It's really
good when it's well prepared. Mmmm...... I guess I'll post a couple of
recipes.
I don't want to give anyone the impression that I believe folic acid is
the cure for all fatigue, muscle stiffness & pain. Many things can cause
these symptoms. I believe I received such a dramatic response only
because I was extremely deficient in folic acid. If you receive no
response from trying it, you may be getting enough in your diet.
Here are some of the list responses I received: [My comments are in
brackets.]
----------
Believe me it's not your nap
----------
I have been taking folic acid for what seems forever (18 years). I don't
recall ever noticing muscle tightness, however, I do remember that the
horrible headaches I used to get stopped after I started taking it. Even
now, I will wake up with a headache if I don't take it for a couple of
days. For whatever stupid reason I didn't take it for several days, I was
so exhausted I couldn't believe it (tired enough that I didn't put 2 + 2
together.) I don't see how 2 hours could make as much difference as you
seemed to notice, but I'll buy it, simply because Calcium has that effect
on my legs.
Welcome to the "1 more pill" club!
---------
I've had similar experience with B 12. My B 12 levels were very low
about a year ago. My memory was impaired, I was grossly fatigued & even
had macrocytic anemia from the deficiency. I started on B 12 shots.
Within a couple hours of the first shot, I felt much better. I remember
improving very rapidly. As I recall, it took two or three shots a week
for a month or two to get rid of the anemia, bring my blood levels back
to normal & keep my energy level sustained between shots. I now do
weekly injections at home. It's a very cheap therapy. I pay about $10
for a three month supply of the vitamin and about $25 for a box of 100
syringes. --VAL
----------
I had the same reaction to folic acid. In Canada, 1000 mcg is available
with the vitamins at any store (I got mine at WalMart). My first day
with this much folic acid was my first great day on guai. And my energy
has
increased steadily since. Coincidence perhaps, but I'll take it!!!!
Besides, the docs tell pre-pregnant women to take folic acid, so 2 birds
with 1 stone! --Nicki
---------
Q: I was wondering, was your folic acid in a pill or a capsule?
A: small yellow tablet]
Q: Was that 1mg per day in one dose or was it in two or more doses?
A: One pill, was what the doctor ordered, but I've been using two & three
a day & an experiencing a rapid improvement in fatigue. It's been 7 days
now since the first pill.]
Q: Do you feel that one brand is better than another?
A: I dunno. It was a prescription & the only time I've ever taken that
high a dose. They are sweet tasting so I've been dissolving them under
my tongue. I read in Lange, that folic acid is easily absorbed anywhere
along the GI track. So I figured the mouth would be a good place because
there's no food to interfere with it's absorption.]
Q: Do you expect to stay on the folic acid from here on out or will
this be an off and on treatment?
A: I expect to maintain high doses and gradually taper off to one tablet
a day.]
------------
Q: I thought folic acid & B12 were the same thing?
A: No they are not, but they are both necessary for the formation of
normal red blood cells. When either or both are deficient, the body
makes fewer blood cells that are larger than normal (MACROCYTIC --
"macro" means large, and "cyte" means cell). B12 deficiency can cause
memory loss & dementia & if not corrected soon, the neurological damage
can be permanent.
----------
I too suffer from the lack of vitamins. If I run out and miss just a few
days of my vitamins my mouth erupts in terribly sore ulcers. I had these
all my life until I was diagnosed as a Coeliac. [I forgot about that. I
have also had an unusually large amount of mouth sores w/i the last few
weeks. "Lange" mentions stomatitis, or sore mouth, as one of the
symptoms of macrocytic anemia.]
----------
I have been taking 1mg of folic acid ... I ran out, and have recently
been having major muscle spasms in my feet and legs. I have not checked
with the dr, as the last time I had these similar spasms, they didn't
seem to even care about them. [I've had similar responses from doctors.
They shrug it off as if it's inconsequencial. Grrrr.]
-----------
You might try the elimination method. Take a nap without the folic acid
pill, then try the pill without the nap, and see if the same thing
happens either time. If not, try them together again and see if it works
again.
[I've tried both scenarios. Every time I take a pill I get better w/i an
hour or two.]
----------
Folic Acid can do some interesting things for the body. My younger
daughter, who has Spina Bifida and Growth Hormone Deficiency, actually
grew two inches on a high dose of Folic Acid (with approval from her
endocrinologist) I tried this as an experiment because of a woman in New
Zealand who had a theory, and the same results, doing this. Anyway, five
of us tried the experiment and all of our kids grew some during the
experiment but for each of them their came a time when the Folic Acid no
longer worked and due to the dangers of remaining Growth Hormone
Deficient, all of the kids started GH treatments. It was interesting how
the Folic Acid cold jump start a failing pituitary gland, at least for
awhile.
------------
Q: What brand are you using?
A: I dunno. It's prescription, 1,000 mcg (1 mg) -- little sweet yellow
tablets. With out prescripton I think it's only available in 400 mcg or
800 mcg in the US. But what's to stop one from using more than pill a
day? Mmmmm???? I've heard from another list that NOW makes a good brand
of sublingual folic acid and B 12, that it's best taken between meals
chewed or dissolved under the tongue and shouldn't be taken at the same
time with any other vitamin other than B12 because it's not absorbed well
with anything else. Some chewable supplements contain both folic acid &
B12.
--------------
..regarding the folic acid all by itself... It is written up as an
amazing supplement. Women contemplating marriage which may include
children should take folic acid and continue it through their pregnancies
and on. It may prevent some nasty birth defects. I hope that you
continue to feel better...time will tell.... I began mine when I was 35
and my husband started much later after we had done a lot of reading on
the subject. ...That, coupled with the gluten-free diet for the last
couple of years has made a world of difference.
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