What does it mean to have a high folate blood test?

What does it mean to have a high folate blood test?

High values High levels of folate in the blood may mean that you eat a diet rich in folate or folic acid, take vitamins, or take folic acid pills. Consuming more folate than the body needs does not cause problems. High folate levels can also mean a vitamin B12 deficiency. Body cells need vitamin B12 to use folate.

What should your folate reading be?

Normal Results The normal range is 2.7 to 17.0 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) or 6.12 to 38.52 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different labs. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your test results.

How is folate deficiency diagnosed?

Diagnosis and Tests Your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history and your symptoms. They can diagnose folate deficiency through a blood test. The blood test measures the amount of folate in your blood. A low level of folate indicates a folate deficiency.

Is high folate a problem?

“We found no evidence that folate could worsen their health problems. Consuming higher amounts of folate does not seem to interfere with the body’s use of vitamin B12 in otherwise healthy individuals.” Folate is the naturally occurring form of folic acid.

What diseases cause high folate levels?

Aside from those with a poor diet, some people have low folate for other reasons. Many conditions can increase folate usage or prevent its absorption….Who needs extra folic acid?

• Pregnancy.
• Celiac disease.
• Crohn’s disease.
• Inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Diabetic enteropathy.
• Liver disease.
• Tuberculosis.
• Psoriasis.

What is an abnormal folate level?

Adults: 140-628 ng/mL or 317-1422 nmol/L. Children: Over 160 ng/mL or over 362 nmol/L.

What is considered a low folate level?

An erythrocyte folate level less than 340 nmol/L (150 ng/mL) indicates reduced body stores. However, routine red cell folate testing is not necessary because serum folate alone is sufficient in most cases. In many cases of folate deficiency the cause is not obvious from the clinical picture or dietary history.

What happens if you are deficient in folate?

Folate-deficiency anemia is the lack of folic acid in the blood. Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps your body make red blood cells. If you don’t have enough red blood cells, you have anemia. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of your body.

How can you tell the difference between B12 and folate deficiency?

Additional testing with homocysteine and MMA determinations may help distinguish between B12 and folate deficiency states. In folate deficiency, homocysteine levels are elevated and MMA levels are normal. In vitamin B12 deficiency, both homocysteine levels and MMA levels are elevated.

What happens if your folate is low?

Vitamin B12 or B9 (commonly called folate) deficiency anaemia occurs when a lack of vitamin B12 or folate causes the body to produce abnormally large red blood cells that cannot function properly. Red blood cells carry oxygen around the body using a substance called haemoglobin.

Does low folic acid cause weight gain?

Furthermore, folate deficiency may lead to body weight gain and adiposity [12]. Several studies has indicated a link between low folate intake or low serum folate concentration and greater body mass, BMI, overall fat accumulation, and higher waist circumference [13,14,15,16].

Why is my B12 and folate high?

An abnormally high vitamin B-12 status can be an early sign of liver disease, diabetes, or certain types of leukemia. A doctor may use the results of a vitamin B-12 test to help form their diagnosis.

What does low folate indicate?

What diseases cause low folate?

You may lose folate from your body if you pee frequently. This can be caused by an underlying condition that affects one of your organs, such as: congestive heart failure – where the heart is unable to pump enough blood around the body. acute liver damage – often caused by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.

Is B12 the same as folate?

Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is found in foods from animals, such as red meat, fish, poultry, milk, yogurt, and eggs. Folate (Vitamin B9) refers to a natural occurring form of the vitamin, whereas folic acid refers to the supplement added to foods and drinks.

What can cause low folate levels?

A diet low in fresh fruits, vegetables, and fortified cereals is the main cause of folate deficiency. In addition, overcooking your food can sometimes destroy the vitamins. Folate levels in your body can become low in just a few weeks if you don’t eat enough folate-rich foods.