Vitamin B12 deficiency and the fortification of food with folic acid
Bower, C.; Wald, N.J.
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 49(11): 787-793
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0954-3007 PMID: 8557017 Document Number: 454491
Vitamin B12 deficiency and the fortification of food with folic acid are reviewed. There is concern that the extra folic acid in fortified food may prevent or resolve the anaemia of vitamin B12 deficiency and delay diagnosis, causing irreversible neurological damage. This concern is based on 5 propositions: folic acid can cause a remission of the anaemia of vitamin B12 deficiency; folic acid does not prevent the neuropathy of vitamin B12 deficiency from developing; folic acid hastens the progression of the neuropathy; the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency neuropathy is delayed if there is no concomitant anaemia; and the neuropathy of vitamin B12 deficiency becomes irreversible if there is a delay in its diagnosis.