Home> FOLATE (FOLIC ACID)
Folate is the naturally occurring form of vitamin B9 found in a variety of foods, particularly leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, peanuts, seeds, fortified cereals and legumes. While folic acid on the other hand is the synthetic form of folate produced in labs. It's commonly added to fortified foods like cereals and breads to ensure people get enough folate in their diet. Together folate and folic acid play a vital role in DNA Synthesis and Repair, Amino Acid Metabolism, Red Blood Cell or RBC synthesis, cell division and growth, Brain Function and Mental Health.
Adequate folate levels are crucial for supporting fetal development during pregnancy, and reducing the risk of cardiovascular and neurological issues.
By fulfilling these vital roles, folate (Vitamin B9) supports overall health and well-being, emphasizing the importance of maintaining adequate levels through diet and, if necessary, supplementation.
The folate test is important because it helps detect folate deficiency, a condition that can lead to serious health problems. Folate deficiency can cause birth defects, anemia, and nerve damage. The test identifies potential issues before symptoms arise. If you're taking folic acid supplements, the test tracks their effectiveness in managing your folate levels.
There are several types of tests that can measure folate levels, each used for specific reasons. Each type of folate test is selected based on specific symptoms, dietary habits, existing health conditions and what the doctor is concerned about or looking for. The choice of test helps ensure that diagnosis and treatment strategies are accurately tailored to individual health needs. The different types of folate tests are as follows:
However, serum folate levels can fluctuate based on recent dietary intake, so timing of this folate test relative to when you last ate can affect the results. So this test can potentially lead to inaccurate depictions of long-term folate stores.
Although not a direct measure of folate, the Homocysteine test is related because high levels of the amino acid homocysteine can suggest a deficiency in folate (as well as vitamin B12 or B6). This test is often used when a folate deficiency is suspected due to symptoms like fatigue or cardiovascular issues, and to monitor people with known conditions that affect folate metabolism.
Your doctor will determine the most appropriate test based on your individual situation and medical history. In some cases, both tests might be used together for a more comprehensive evaluation.
In serum and RBC folate folic acid tests, specific parameters are measured to assess folate status in the body. Here are the parameters for each test along with brief descriptions:
Serum Folate Level: This parameter gauges the concentration of folate circulating in your bloodstream or the folate levels in your blood plasma. It provides a snapshot of the amount of folate available in the body at the time of the test. This is useful for diagnosing a current deficiency and guiding immediate dietary or supplemental interventions.
RBC Folate Level: This parameter gauges the concentration of folate within the RBCs or red blood cells in particular. RBC folate levels reflect the body’s folate stores over a longer period (about 120 days, which is the lifespan of red blood cells). This provides a more stable indicator of chronic folate status, helping to diagnose long-term deficiencies.
Additional Parameters Sometimes Assessed Alongside Folate Tests include:
- Vitamin B12 Level: Since vitamin B12 and folate work closely together in the body, a deficiency in one can affect the other. Low vitamin B12 levels can lead to similar symptoms as folate deficiency, such as anemia and neurological issues.
- Homocysteine Level: This accurately assesses the concentration of homocysteine, an amino acid, in the blood. Elevated homocysteine levels can indicate deficiencies in folate, vitamin B12, or vitamin B6, as these vitamins are essential for homocysteine metabolism. High homocysteine levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and other health issues.
It is also common for doctors to order a Complete Blood Count or CBC test along with Folate Folic Acid tests.
Doctors may prescribe folate folic acid tests for several reasons, including:
- Evaluation of Certain Symptoms and Diagnosis of Folate Deficiency: Folate deficiency can lead to various health issues, including anemia, cognitive impairment, fatigue neurological problems, weakness and pregnancy complications. Testing helps diagnose deficiency and guide appropriate treatment.
- Monitoring Treatment: For individuals receiving folate supplementation or undergoing treatment for conditions related to folate metabolism, regular testing helps monitor response to therapy and ensure optimal dosing.
- Prenatal Care: Adequate folate levels are crucial during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects in the developing fetus. Testing ensures pregnant women have sufficient folate levels and may guide supplementation recommendations.
- Assessment of Nutritional Status: Folate levels can reflect overall nutritional status and dietary intake of folate-rich foods. Testing helps identify individuals at risk of deficiency due to poor diet or malabsorption.
- Management of Chronic Diseases: Certain chronic conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and alcoholism, can impair folate absorption or increase folate requirements. Testing helps manage folate status in these patients.
The specific reason for a folate folic acid test will depend on your individual health situation and medical history. Your doctor will discuss their concerns and explain why they recommend this test.
Each type of folate folic acid test serves specific purposes and may be recommended for different individuals based on their health status, medical history, and symptoms. Here's a breakdown of who may benefit from each type of Folate test:
- Individuals with symptoms of folate deficiency like fatigue, weakness, or shortness of breath.
- Women planning pregnancy or in early pregnancy to assess their immediate folate levels.
- People taking folic acid supplements to monitor their effectiveness.
- People with certain medical conditions affecting folate absorption or metabolism such as celiac disease or IBD (inflammatory bowel disease)
- People with a low serum folate test result where recent intake isn't a major factor (e.g., not recently taking folic acid supplements).
- Those with suspected chronic folate deficiency
- individuals with certain genetic disorders affecting folate metabolism
- Pregnant women
Ultimately, the decision to perform any of these folate folic acid tests is made by doctors based on an individual’s health needs, symptoms, and medical history. The results help tailor treatment and management strategies to optimize health outcomes.
The folate-folic acid test might sound complex, but the process itself is fairly straightforward. Here's a breakdown of what happens behind the scenes:
Depending on the folate folic acid test type, the lab might analyze either the serum or the red blood cells for folate content. Special chemicals are used in a controlled environment to trigger a reaction specific to folate molecules. This reaction produces a measurable signal, like a change in color, fluorescence or light intensity.
The strength of this signal corresponds to the amount of folate present in your blood. Sophisticated machines analyze this signal and convert it into a numerical value. This numerical value is then compared to a pre-established normal range for folate levels. The results are presented to your doctor, who will interpret them and discuss them with you.
Preparing for a folate folic acid test often involves simple but important steps to ensure accurate results. Here’s how you can prepare for each type of test:
- It’s usually recommended to not eat or drink anything except water for 8 to 12 hours before the test, as recent food intake can influence serum folate levels.
- Inform your doctor about any medications or supplements you are taking, as some medications such as birth control pills, antibiotics, and anti-seizure medications can affect folate levels. Your doctor might advise you to temporarily hold certain medications before the test, but only do so with their explicit instructions.
High doses of biotin (vitamin B7), a common supplement for hair and skin health, can interfere with some folate test methods. Let your doctor know if you're taking biotin, and they might recommend stopping it for a few days before the test.
- This folate test doesn’t typically require fasting because it measures long-term folate levels within red blood cells, which are not immediately affected by recent dietary intake.
- As with the serum folate test, let your doctor know about any ongoing medications or supplements.
- In some cases, avoiding alcohol consumption for 24 hours before the RBC Folate test might be recommended.
Don't hesitate to ask your doctor any questions you might have about the folate folic acid test or your folate levels. These are general guidelines. Always follow the specific instructions provided by your doctor for optimal test results.
The folate-folic acid test results will show a numerical value along with a reference range for normal folate levels. Here's a breakdown of what the results mean and how to understand them:
Normal Serum Folate Results:
The normal range for serum folate levels typically varies slightly depending on the laboratory, but generally it is greater than 5.38 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL)
Serum folate levels between 3.38 and 5.37 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) are indicative of intermediate serum folate levels. A serum folate level lower than 3.37 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) is suggestive of a folate deficiency.
Normal RBC Folate Results:
The normal range for RBC folate levels for adults is generally 523 to 1257 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL).
Children may have slightly different reference ranges.
Low RBC Folate Levels: Levels below the normal range suggest a chronic folate deficiency, reflecting long-term inadequate folate stores in the body. This can be due to prolonged poor dietary intake, chronic malabsorption issues, or certain chronic diseases.
Low folate levels can lead to megaloblastic anemia, characterized by large, immature red blood cells. During pregnancy, inadequate folate can increase the risk of neural tube defects in the developing fetus.
Please note that a single test result might not be enough to definitively diagnose a folate deficiency.
Your doctor might recommend additional tests or discuss dietary modifications or folic acid supplementation based on your individual situation. If you are diagnosed with a Folate Deficiency then you should incorporate folate-rich foods like legumes, leafy greens, and fortified grains
Signs and Symptoms of Folate Folic Acid Deficiency:
Symptoms of folate deficiency include fatigue, irritability, weakness, pale skin, dyspnea or shortness of breath and in severe cases, neurological symptoms like numbness and tingling.
Elevated RBC folate levels are unusual and could indicate over-supplementation. However, like high serum folate levels, they can also signal a vitamin B12 deficiency since unmetabolized folate can accumulate in RBCs or red blood cells. If folate test results show high folate levels, especially alongside symptoms of deficiency, further testing for vitamin B12 levels may be necessary to check for underlying issues with folate metabolism.
High Folate levels are generally not a major concern unless accompanied by other symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms of Folate Folic Acid Overload:
Excessive folate by itself typically does not cause specific symptoms, but there could be potential issues such as:
The symptoms of B12 deficiency include:
- Pale or jaundiced (yellowish) skin
- Nerve problems like numbness or tingling in the hands and feet
- Muscle weakness and trouble walking
- Cognitive disturbances, such as memory loss or difficulty thinking clearly
- Glossitis and mouth ulcers
- Mood changes, including irritability or depression
- Dizziness
- Dyspnea or breathlessness
- Fatigue and weakness
The good news is that both types of folate-folic acid tests - serum and red blood cell (RBC) - are safe, well tolerated and carry minimal risks.Here's a breakdown of the potential risks of Folate tests:
- The most common risk or issue is minor bruising, brief soreness or discomfort at the site where the needle was inserted.
- Some individuals may feel lightheaded or dizzy during or after the blood draw.
- There's a very small risk of infection hematoma at the puncture site.
The benefits of these tests in assessing your folate status far outweigh the minimal risks involved. If you have any concerns about the test or blood draws in general, discuss them with your doctor. They can address your specific worries and ensure a smooth testing experience.
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Ans) It is usually recommended to have the test done in the morning and after fasting for 8-12 hours, as recent food intake can affect serum folate levels. RBC folate tests reflect long term folate levels within your RBCs or Red Blood Cells so fasting may not be necessary for this type of Folate tests. Always consult your doctor to understand what is the best time to get a folate test done.
Ans) The turnaround time for folate test results typically ranges from 4 hours to 6 hours depending on the laboratory while the RBC Folate test results may take a little longer, typically within 2 to 3 days of taking the test
Ans) Generally, folate testing isn't done routinely. The frequency of testing depends on your individual health needs. If you have a condition that affects folate absorption, are pregnant, or have symptoms of deficiency, your doctor may recommend regular or more frequent folate level testing.
Ans) Eat foods rich in folic acid like leafy greens, seafood, legumes, beans, citrus fruits, peanuts, sunflower seeds and fortified grains and take folic acid supplements as advised by your doctor. Avoid alcohol and manage any underlying health conditions affecting absorption.
Ans) Prevent low folate levels by consuming a balanced diet rich in folate-containing foods such as leafy greens, legumes, and fortified grains. Supplements may be necessary for individuals at higher risk of deficiency.
Ans) The folate test price can vary widely but typically ranges from INR 800 to INR 2000 at Vijaya Diagnostics. Prices depend on the diagnostic center and location. It can also vary based on whether it’s ordered as a standalone test. Plus, with app-only discounts and cashbacks, taking care of your health has never been easier or more rewarding.
Ans) if you are looking for a reliable and affordable diagnostic center to get a Folate test near you then look no further than Vijaya Diagnostics. With over 140+ cutting edge labs across 20+ cities, you’re sure to find a Vijaya Diagnostic center near you!
What’s more? We are bringing Folate tests, preventive health checkups and other blood tests right to your doorstep with our home sample collection option. Book a convenient time slot using our app and enjoy exclusive discounts, cashbacks and more on the Vijaya Diagnostic app! You can alternatively call us on 040 - 2100 0000 or choose your preferred test from the Vijaya Diagnostics website.
Ans) Folate tests can help diagnose folate deficiency, anemia (megaloblastic anemia in particular), malabsorption syndromes (like celiac disease or IBD - Crohn's disease), and assess nutritional status during pregnancy. Folate deficiencies are also linked to neural tube defects in pregnancy and folate folic acid tests can help doctors understand the risks of this defect and make informed treatment decisions.
Ans) No, folate (vitamin B9) and vitamin B12 are different but closely related vitamins. Both are crucial for DNA synthesis and red blood cell formation, and a deficiency in either can lead to similar symptoms.
Ans). Fatigue and weakness are common early hallmark signs of folate deficiency.
Ans) Yes, you can reschedule or cancel a Folate test appointment by contacting our toll free number: 040 - 2100 0000 or by using the Vijaya Diagnostics app. It's advisable to provide advance notice to avoid any inconvenience.
Ans) Foods high in folate include leafy green vegetables (such as spinach and kale), legumes (such as beans and lentils), citrus fruits, nuts, seeds, and fortified grains and cereals.
Ans) Very high folate levels are uncommon. You can prevent high folate levels by avoiding excessive supplementation and following the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for folate. If you have concerns, discuss them with your doctor.