[Folic acid and vitamin B 12 in chronic alcoholics]

In 64 chronic alcoholics folic acid and vitamin B12 in plasma and folic acid in erythrocytes were determined. The mean values of folic acid in plasma and in erythrocytes were significantly below normal. The determination of vitamin B12 showed normal results in a group of 20 cases treated with vitamin B12 containing drugs, whereas in the group of untreated alcoholics significantly reduced values were found. Comparison of folic acid and vitamin B12 concentrations in plasma revealed a more frequent deficiency of folic acid than of vitamin B12, which was combined with anemia in half the alcoholics investigated. The need to treat chronic alcoholics with folic acid and vitamin B12 is pointed out.