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You wrote: > >I am 48 year old male with PD for 13 yrs(since diagnosed). About 6 yrs ago >during annual physical exam with internest/GP, one of the standard blood >screens showed that I was below the norm in Folic Acid. Dr. said to take > Vit B-12 (100mcg./day) which I do still. To my knowledge this had no >relationship to my PD, but will ask Dr. at next physical which happens to be >in a few weeks. > > Stephen Holahan ([log in to unmask]) > > Stephen: Many medications can lower the blood level of folic acid and whatever PD meds you might be on could be the culprits. Vitamin B12 is not the same as folic acid (they work together but are different substances) and there is a disease, called "pernicious anemia" that is due to a deficiency of Vitamin B12 (because there is an "intrinsic factor" missing in the stomach juice for absorption of B12 which is present in many natural foods). If one has pernicious anemia, taking Vitamin B12 by mouth is ineffective and it is not absorbed because of the deficiency in the stomach juice, and it must be given by injection (and the daily dose is 1000 mcg., not 100 mcg.). If someone with pernicious anemia takes folic acid, it can be *dangerous*, as the folic acid will correct the anemia, but will not stop the neurological degeneration which is the worst part of pernicious anemia. I would recommend that you be checked both for folic acid and B12 levels in your blood. If the B12 is OK, then you don't need to take the B12. If the folic acid is still low, then you might consider taking folic acid, which is present in some over-the-counter vitamin preparations. Also ask your doctor to check if any of the other medications which you are taking can "artifically" lower the folic acid level. Hope this helps. Best, Bob -- ******************************************************** Robert A. Fink, M. D., F.A.C.S. Phone: 510-849-2555 Neurological Surgery FAX: 510-849-2557 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, California 94704-2636 USA E-Mail: [log in to unmask] CompuServe: 72303,3442 America Online: BobFink "Ex Tristitia Virtus" ********************************************************