Take vitamin B-12 with folic acid. Folic acid helps enhance vitamin B-12's action in lowering homocysteine, an amino acid that can increase the risk of heart disease, some birth defects and Alzheimer's disease when present in high levels. Separate your doses of vitamin C and vitamin B-12 by at least an hour. Large doses of vitamin C may destroy vitamin B-12. 3. Stop smoking or increase supplemental vitamin B-12.
Tobacco decreases absorption.
Cut back on alcohol if you are a heavy drinker. In addition to its other detrimental health effects, excessive alcohol intake can lead to a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Check your medications. You may need to take extra supplementation. Avoid taking large doses of folic acid without increasing your dose of vitamin B-12.