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Folic Acid, does it give you heartburn?!

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Posted 7/11/2011 9:34 AM (GMT 0)
Just wondering if anyone has had problems taking 5 mg tabs of folic acid? I've been given it for my anaemia but now I have the worst heartburn/reflux pains that I've had in ages! I need to correct my anaemia and go on to iron too, but if this flare up is due to the high dose folic acid then it's going to do a lot of damage! smhair
Posted 7/11/2011 2:28 PM (GMT 0)
Good Morning,

I have read of pregnant women complaining that folic acid is "most likely causing them heartburn". 

5 mg of Folic acid is a fairly high dose but right in range for what is prescribed for your anemia problems.

I am sure someone else will have some input for you.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 7/11/2011 3:06 PM (GMT 0)
I take 800mcg and have no trouble. It's much lower.
Posted 7/11/2011 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Yes it's a massive dose they gave me! I have bought some 400 mcg - will give myself a couple of days break then start a lower dose and build up. Can't believe how bad I feel today . . . Like someone stomped on my chest during the night :-(
Posted 7/11/2011 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
What about the natural way....

Eating Calf's liver
Lentils
Beans, garbanzo, pinto or black beans?
Asparagus, Collard Greens Spinach, boiled though?

What about juicing the veggies with high folic acid?
These are the most rich in Folic Acid...

I on the other hand have been found with high folic acid, my dr. is trying to figure this out. Even though I do not take a multivitamin...
Posted 7/11/2011 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Do you eat all of the above food a lot?
That could be it. :)
Posted 7/11/2011 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
No not me personally, lol
I eat pinto beans and thats about it. Spinach sparingly but my Folic Acid was really out of the normal range 3 times..Meaning it was super high...
Posted 7/11/2011 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Found this on webmd site...
High levels of folic acid in the blood may mean that you eat a diet rich in folic acid, take vitamins, or take folic acid pills. Consuming more folic acid than the body needs does not cause problems.
High folic acid levels can also mean a vitamin B12 deficiency. Body cells need vitamin B12 to use folic acid. So if vitamin B12 levels are very low, folic acid cannot be used by the cells, and high levels of it may build up in the blood. But a folic acid test is not a reliable way to test for a vitamin B12 deficiency.
Posted 7/12/2011 8:13 AM (GMT 0)
Joy, that's right about B12; doctors always test B12 level before giving high dose folic acid.

Nickles, I'm on pppis which means no stomach acid. You cannot extract the iron from plant foods without the acid, not sure if same goes for folic acid. And I have been eating plenty greens, so the deficiency is caused by malabsorption due to the gastritis.

I'm having various greens and eating pate for the iron but I think things won't improve unless the gastritis is sorted. This current attack is very painful, don't know if it's gastritis or ulcer. All I know is I was feeling good until I took the. 5 mg of folic acid!!
Posted 7/12/2011 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear mmm, keep us posted though.
Posted 7/20/2011 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Getting ready for a Nissen Wrap but trying to take care of nutritional needs without eating much food and in the process I started taking 1 800 mcg tablet of Folic Acid. Never had any idea that it would exacerbate my GERD so badly.

I keep a journal and was able to go back over the last few days and ask "what's different". Turns out it was the Folic Acid.

I didn't take any today and the GERD while still terrible doesn't have me confined to my bed.

Good to figure out this stuff.

Carpe Diem
Posted 7/20/2011 6:23 PM (GMT 0)
We (me & hubby) were stunned the Folic Acid made me so much worse - I'm still recovering from taking it 10 days ago!!

Hubby got scientific over it and ground up one 5 mg tablet and mixed it with a little boiled water (we know the pH of the boiled water is 8). He then tested the Folic Acid solution and the pH was lower than the testing kit could measure - defininitely less than 5!!

I started a thread a while ago about filtered water - our jug filter was also making our neutral tap water into acid, with a pH of 5 or possibly even lower. I've gone back to drinking boiled municipal tap water which (here in Manchester UK) has a pH of 8.5. Can't say it's made any difference, but drinking acidic drinks can't have been helping me either.

I don't know if Folic Acid can be found in another form in supplements (haven't looked it up as yet.......) but possibly there's something on the market where it's in its plant "folate" form? I'll do some digging..........
Posted 7/20/2011 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
I raised my kids pretty well by asking "what's different/what's changed" every time they got sick. It's pretty much just good detective work. I'm just really glad I keep a journal. The devil is in the details but God is also in the details. It's up to us to keep track and to ascertain the difference in the two.

I'm in enough pain now waiting on reflux surgery that I didn't need anything else - especially something like folic acid - making me feel worse.

By the way, I'm new here. How do I get something to appear at the bottom of my post as you have at the bottom of yours?

Carpe Diem
Posted 7/20/2011 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, looks like there are "folate" supplements out there (Solgar make one) as opposed to synthetic "folic acid". I'm not sure if that would solve the acidity problem - one of the alternative supplements of "folate" is in the form of "L-methylfolate" and it is designed to overcome inherent problems converting folic acid to its usable form (so the blurb says.......). I might see if I can contact one of the manufacturers and see what they say on the acidity issue. I'll post further if I get any useful info.
Posted 7/20/2011 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks.
Posted 7/20/2011 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
PS: For most people it is recommended to take your B vitamins as a B complex rather than dose up on a single B vitamin - they are all interrelated and you shouldn't take them singly except for very short periods of time. Also, don't forget you probably have folic acid enriched breakfast cereal and margarine already.

I'm hoping my deficiency was an absorption issue due to very active gastritis - am waiting to see if my blood picture improves on the proper dose of Lansoprazole (which I was avoiding due to side effects..........)
Posted 7/20/2011 6:38 PM (GMT 0)
My stomach has always reacted badly to B-Complex or supplemental B-Vitamins. I needed the folic acid for something totally unrelated to the GERD symptoms but it backfired big-time.

Won't be taking it again for a long time if ever!
Posted 7/20/2011 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
I needed it for anaemia. I agree - I'd be very scared to try some again!! If I get anywhere with pH values on other forms of it, I'll let you know! Thanks for posting - I'm so glad to hear it's not just me who has a problem taking it! :-)
Posted 7/15/2020 7:22 AM (GMT 0)
I have recently been put on b12 1000 and of folic acid 5mg tablets I have never felt as ill constant burping pain in stomach rumbling noises in stomach Even to move hurts my stomach , my levels where low b12 111 and folic acid 2.2 told I might need injections after blood test , I really feel like stopping these tablets are both causing this or just one , I spoke to Gp on phone said no side affects to vitamins ,Don’t know what to do but can’t put up with this anyone can give me some advice ?
Posted 7/16/2020 12:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lou:

You might get better results by making your own post. This thread has been inactive for 9 years. Have you tried taking any probiotics or eating some plain greek yogurt?

Sharon
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