Reduced Absorption of Vitamin B_12 in Two Patients with Folic Acid Deficiency

Abstract
Two cases of folic acid deficiency without evidence of steatorrhea are described. In each case a Schilling test indicated poor absorption of vitamin B12 initially, but after treatment with folic acid, B12 absorption was within normal limits. Retrospective data on other patients revealed that 11 of 12 folate deficient patients had abnormal Schilling tests without intrinsic factor, and 3 of 6 had abnormally low B12 absorption with intrinsic factor.