Medichecks JD Gyms PT Handbook

Vitamin B12 & Folate
Fatigue Breathlessness Nerve pain
What do we test?
• Vitamin B12
• Folate
• Both vitamin B12 and folate are part of the B complex of vitamins and they’re
important for red blood cell formation and DNA synthesis.
• B12 is found in animal products such as red meat, fish, poultry, milk and eggs.
• Folate is found in leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, dry beans and peas, liver,
and yeast. It is also found in ‘fortified’ foods e.g. cereals (look for “folic acid”).
What are we looking for?
Deficiency in either of these can lead to anaemia, which can cause fatigue and
weariness. There are two main ways to become deficient:
1) Insufficient intake. Again, vegans may struggle to get all the vitamin B12 they
need.
2) Malabsorption. People with some gut complaints (such as gastritis, Crohn’s
or Coeliacs), type 2 diabetics and alcoholics.
If we see a deficiency we’ll suggest the patient see their GP for supplements and
sometimes further tests.
How does it help me?
Athletic optimisation
Vitamin B12
The jury is still out as to whether having higher levels of vitamin B12 is beneficial for
people who exercise, but we know that having low levels will make people underperform.
It is important to have healthy levels.
Folate
As with vitamin B12, researchers are still exploring whether folic acid supplementation
is beneficial, but low levels are certainly detrimental to performance.
Take home message
Keep vitamin B12 and folate levels within the healthy range to optimise athletic
performance.
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