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Vitamin B12 & Folate

Also known as: Vitamin B12 or Cobalamin; Folic Acid; RBC folate

Formal name: Vitamin B12 and Folate (or Folic Acid)

Related tests: FBC; Methylmalonic acid (MMA); Homocysteine

Common Questions

Can taking too many vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements hurt me?
Is there a difference between folate and folic acid?

1. Can taking too many vitamin B12 and folic acid supplements hurt me?

Not usually. Since vitamin B12 and folic are water soluble, the body will remove any in excess by excreting it in the urine.

2. Is there a difference between folate and folic acid?

No, they are effectively the same.

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This article was last reviewed on July 22, 2008. | This page was last modified on February 12, 2010.

The review date indicates when the article was last reviewed from beginning to end to ensure that it reflects the most current science. A review may not require any modifications to the article, so the two dates may not always agree.

The modified date indicates that one or more changes were made to the page. Such changes may or may not result from a full review of the page, so the two dates may not always agree.

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