Is a folate level of 20 high?
Is a folate level of 20 high?
The usual reference range of serum folate is 2.5-20 ng/mL. By statistical definition, 2-5% of healthy individuals will have a serum folate level of less than 2.5 ng/mL; hence, the serum folate level cannot be used alone to establish the diagnosis of folate deficiency.
What is a high folate level?
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 happens if your folate is too high?
“Today it’s worrisome that taking extra folate over the long term might lead to more DNA methylation, which then might lead to extra diseases including potentially an increased chance of developing cancer and other diseases of aging,” Issa said.
What number should your folic acid be?
The normal reference range of folic acid in the blood is between 2.7 and 17.0 nanograms per milliliter. Higher-than-normal folic acid levels usually aren’t problematic, but they may indicate a vitamin B-12 deficiency.
What medical conditions cause high folate levels?
There are several other medical conditions that may increase folic acid needs including anyone taking medications for epilepsy, Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease; anyone with kidney disease who is on dialysis; anyone with liver, sickle cell, or celiac diseases.
How much folate is too much?
You should not get more than 1,000 micrograms of folic acid a day, unless your doctor prescribes a higher amount. Too much folic acid can hide signs that you lack vitamin B12, which can cause nerve damage.
How much is too much folic acid?
How much folic acid is too much?
What is a low folic acid level?
We have found that your blood folic acid (Vitamin B9) levels are low. A lack of folic acid may be a cause of anaemia. Anaemia means you have fewer red blood cells than normal. Folic acid is a vitamin and is needed to make new cells in the body, including red blood cells. The body does not store very much folic acid.
What is considered low folic acid?
Biochemical deficiency has been defined as a concentration of less than 3 ng/mL (< 6.7 nmol/L) for serum folate and less than 140 ng/ml (< 322 nmol/L) for erythrocyte folate.
Does folic acid cause weight gain?
There is no evidence that people with adequate blood levels of folic acid will gain weight if they take supplements. However, weight loss is one possible side effect of a folate deficiency.
What is a normal folate level for a woman?
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).
What is the reference range for folic acid?
Reference Range. Testing the folate level, which is also known as folic acid and vitamin B9, is primarily used in the diagnosis of megaloblastic anemia. The reference range of the plasma folate level varies by age, as follows: Adults: 2-20 ng/mL, or 4.5-45.3 nmol/L.
What does it mean if my folic acid is high?
A high folic acid level is usually not a problem; however, it could indicate a vitamin B-12 deficiency. This is because the body needs vitamin B-12 to process folic acid properly. Your healthcare professional may want additional testing to make sure a high folic acid level isn’t resulting from a vitamin B-12 deficiency.
How much folic acid is in a multivitamin?
Dietary supplements. Folic acid is available in multivitamins and prenatal vitamins, supplements containing other B-complex vitamins, and supplements containing only folic acid. Common doses range from 400 to 800 mcg in supplements for adults and 200 to 400 mcg in children’s multivitamins [20,21].
What is the DV for folate and folic acid?
The DV for folate is 400 mcg DFE for adults and children aged 4 years and older [ 11 ], where mcg DFE = mcg naturally occurring folate + (1.7 x mcg folic acid). The labels must list folate content in mcg DFE per serving and if folic acid is added to the product, they must also list the amount of folic acid in mcg in parentheses.