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Standard Process Folic Acid B12 Review – Is it Effective?

By Sasha de Beausset Aparicio, MSc

Reviewed by Rebecca Williams, MD, MA, MB, BChir

Last Updated:

Evidence Based | Overview | Nutrition Facts | Cautions | Price | Suggested Use | Final Thoughts

Folic Acid B12 promotes the health benefits of Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) and Vitamin B12. The formula is manufactured by Standard Process, which advertises the supplement to support normal nervous system development of adults and babies (for pregnant women), to support healthy circulation and homocysteine levels, as well as to play an important role in DNA formation and replication and cell production.

Standard Process is enjoys a good reputation as a manufacturer of dietary supplements, having been founded in 1929. The company manufactures and distributes more than 300 dietary supplements, herbal formulations and veterinary products. They’re also behind the gut health supplement Enzycore.

Folic Acid B12 is designed for any adult who is Folic acid or B12 deficient or wishes to prevent depletion of these essential vitamins. Folic Acid B12 is also suited for pregnant women due to the Folic Acid content, a vitamin which assists unborn babies with normal neural tube formation, supports the development of the nervous system and reduces the risk of birth defects.

Overview

1) Quick Overview

Folic Acid B12 is a vitamin formulation featuring two essential B Vitamins: B12 and B9. They can be absorbed from different foods or through supplementation. Vitamin B12 can be found in dairy products, eggs, meat, poultry and shellfish. Folic Acid is often found in green vegetables, fruits, dried beans, cereals, peas, cornmeal and nuts.

Vitamin B9 and B12 play an essential role in the red cell formation process. Red blood cells or haematids have a limited lifespan of 120 days. They are essential to transporting oxygen to body tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissue. Vitamin B12 and Folate help continuously supply red blood cells and promote optimum oxygen levels at cellular level.

Folate or Folic Acid is essential to fetal development, particularly the development of an unborn child’s spinal cord and brain. It is also known for its benefits on brain function and nervous tissue functioning. Several studies indicate that Folate supplements can positively impact mood disorders such as symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression. Folic Acid may improve cognitive function and prevent ailments affecting memory such as symptoms of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. In 2007, a research study was conducted by the Wageningen University in the Netherlands investigating the potential benefits of folic acid supplements on cognitive function in elderly adults. Results showed that patients taking 800 mg Vitamin B9 daily for three years had recorded improved performance tasks (memory, information processing, etc) than those taking a placebo. High doses of Folic Acid may cause diarrhea, abdominal cramps, sleep disorders, irritability, nausea, confusion, stomach upset or behavior changes.

Low levels of Vitamin B12 are associated with Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and a condition called vascular dementia, ailments caused by age related cognitive impairment. Vitamin B12 is also essential to energy production, promoting physical and psychological energy. B12 deficiencies have been associated to depression, symptoms of stress, and brain shrinkage (a common sign of Alzheimer’s disease). In rare cases vitamin B12 may cause diarrhea, itching, blood clots, and allergic reactions.

Nutrition Facts

2) Folic Acid B12 Nutrition Facts

Folic Acid B12 includes the following ingredients: Folate, Vitamin B12, Proprietary Blend: Carrot (root), calcium lactate, bovine liver, porcine stomach parenchyma, defatted wheat (germ), bovine spleen, ovine spleen, bovine adrenal Cytosol extract, oat flour, and ascorbic acid, Honey, cellulose, folic acid, dicalcium phosphate, and cyanocobalamin.

3) Does Folic Acid B12 Work?

As a vitamin formulation based on the effects of two essential B vitamins: vitamin B9 and vitamin B12; Folic Acid B12 can be absorbed from various existing foods or through supplementation. For example, vitamin B12 can be found in eggs, poultry, dairy products, meat, and shellfish, whereas folic acid is found in fruits, green vegetables, peas, dried beans, nuts, and cereals.

The combination of these two B vitamins plays an essential role in the process of red cell formation. Because the red blood spell or haematids possess a limited lifespan of one hundred and twenty days, it is essential that they are capable of transporting carbon dioxide from the tissues and oxygen to the body. This is where folic acid intervenes by helping maintain the continuously supply of red cell while also promoting oxygen levels at a cellular level.

Particularly, Folate or Folic Acid is essential for the typical fetal development, especially when it comes to areas like the brain, cord and spinal. Being known for the beneficial effects provided for the nervous tissue functioning as well as the brain function, this ingredient can help prevent some mood disorders like depression or symptoms of bipolar disorders. Additionally, Folic Acid enhances cognitive function and can even help to avoid ailments that directly affect the memory, like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

There are online testimonials about Folic Acid B12. What is being reported includes:

  • I’ve been taking this product while I was pregnant and everything went according to plan

  • Helped me with some of my memory issues

4) Folic Acid B12 Benefits & Results

  • A daily serving provides 100% of the daily required dosage of Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid Affordable product (approximately $25 for a 3 months’ supply)
  • Scientifically proven benefits of Vitamin B12 and vitamin B9
  • The product has an affordable price (approximately $10 for a 3 months’ supply)
  • The formula has been available since 1981
Cautions

5) What You Need to Know Before Taking Folic Acid B12

  • There are no consumer testimonials posted online
  • Potential side effects may sometimes be related to the 2 essential ingredients
Price

6) Folic Acid B12 Price

Folic Acid B12 is found for purchase by bottles containing ninety tablets and was first introduced on the market in 1981. Because the daily recommended dosage is one capsule, with water and after meals, a bottle is sufficient for three months of usage. Considering its quantity as well as the experience of the manufacturer, it is fair to say that this product is moderate-priced, especially compared to similar others. There is no international shipment on the official manufacturer website, nor does it provide a free sample. However, for people outside the United States, it is advised to try to find this product on an online retailer.

Suggested Use

7) Suggested Use

The recommended dose of Folic Acid B12 is 1 tablet per day. There are no consumer reviews regarding the formula posted online. Also, the manufacturing company does any side effects or precautions involving the formula.

Final Thoughts

8) Final Thoughts on Folic Acid B12

Vitamins and minerals are essential nutrients for numerous body functions and for the health of most organs. Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 are particularly important in red blood cells formation (a process called methylation), in supporting the nervous system and circulation. They may prevent or be part of the treatment of ailments affecting the cardiovascular system and cognitive function, depression and stress.Each capsule of Folic Acid B12 provides 100% of the daily value of the two vitamins. However, the formula did not receive consumer reviews; hence we can’t evaluate its effectiveness. Vitamins supplementation taken without the consent of a healthcare provider may prove harmful for your health. We strongly advise you to talk to your healthcare provider before starting using dietary supplements.

3/5 - (2 votes)
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Patrick R. Castellanos

I have had no issues. I take this with Omegas 3-6-9 and B-12 every morning and have no issues other than needing to eat something or drink coffee after taking it.

Peggy R. Lizotte

I have read that some people don’t absorb folic acid well, so was considering getting the more expensive kind. Then I got my lab results: 4 months after taking one tab per day of this, my homocysteine went from 13 to 8.2 (Normal is less than 12.) I’ll just keep using this.