What is average folate level?
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).
What is a good number for folate?
If the test is done on your blood plasma, a normal range for folate is 2 to 10 ng/mL. If the test is done on red blood cells, a normal range is 140 to 960 ng/mL. If your folate results are low, it may mean you have: A diet that doesn’t provide enough folate.
What does a high folate value mean?
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 is folate level in blood test?
Test Overview A folate test measures the amount of folate in the blood. Folate is one of many B vitamins. The body needs folate for normal growth and to make red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), and platelets. Folate also is important for the normal development of a baby (fetus).
Is a high folate level bad?
Several studies indicate that chronically elevated levels of unmetabolized folic acid may have adverse health effects, including: Increased cancer risk. High levels of unmetabolized folic acid have been associated with increased cancer risk.
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.
What happens if folic acid is high?
What happens if your folate is too high?
Excess folic acid is excreted in urine. A high folate intake can mask vitamin B-12 deficiency until its neurological effects become irreversible. This can typically be remedied by taking a supplement containing 100 percent of the daily value of both folic acid and vitamin B-12.
What happens if your folic acid is too high?
How long does folate stay in the body?
Your body’s store of folate is usually enough to last 4 months. This means you need folate in your daily diet to ensure your body has sufficient stores of the vitamin.
How long do you have to fast before a folate blood test?
What are the preparations needed for the Folate test? – Fasting is required for 8 hours to 10 hours before the test is conducted. – You should inform your doctor about all the medications you had been already taking. He will suggest to you the way the medications have to be taken before the test.
What does it mean if your folate levels are high?
High levels of folic acid in the blood may mean that you eat a diet rich in folic acid, take vitamins, or take folic acid pills. Consuming more folic acid than the body needs does not cause problems. High folic acid levels can also mean a vitamin B12 deficiency. Body cells need vitamin B12 to use folic acid.
What are the symptoms of elevated folate levels?
One of the symptoms of elevated folic acid involves the digestive system, such as diarrhea and nausea. Changes in behavior can also signify this issue, though symptoms that affect other parts of the body also exist, including a rash and even deficiency of other vitamins.
What’s the optimal folate level?
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. Your body needs vitamin B-12 to use folic acid properly, so if vitamin B-12 levels are low, folic acid can’t be used.