Low Folate

[Advice1]

My mother is 77 and was found quite late in life to have Pernicious Anemia B12 was very low

So she started having B12 injections every 2 months.Looking at her recent Blood test including B12 Ferritin and folate she is confused, although she realises the B12 will be skewed in the result why would the Folate be low?Her platelet count is higher from cancer which i think would be expected.Is there anything she can do to improve her folate levels her diet is not too good due to a gluten diet although never tested for allergy.

It would be good to help her if it is really needed.

Thank you.

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Advice1 it seems strange to me that the "change of reference range" for Folate doesn't actually state what the ranges <from -- to> are but the reading of 2.7μg would be at the bottom of the range if not that your mother is deficient.

Did her doctor not prescribe a folic acid supplement?

Personally I have taken 1 – Folic Acid 400μg for more years than I can remember and in the absence of more qualified advice on here I would respectfully suggest you purchase some folic acid cheaply over the counter of that strength from your local pharmacy or supermarket.

I am not a medically trained person but I've had Pernicious Anaemia (one of many causes of B12 deficiency) for more than 46 years and I too am 77 years of age.

I wish you well.

[Advice1 in reply to clivealive]

Hi Clivealive thank you for your reply

i accidently uploaded missing out all ranges sorry so i have reposted result.Do you understand why folic would be low?The Doctor did prescribe zinc as she is deficient but not so for

Folic acid you have to be on the ball with

these blood test results!

Thank you for your kind advice.

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Advice1]

I defer to Gambit62 's advice below.

Given the ranges you've added your mother is (at least) deficient in Folate and this should be taken up with her G.P.

"Our age" may be a contributory factor in poor absorption of vitamins from food although folic acid seems to be being fortified into lots of food these days.

[Advice1 in reply to clivealive]

Thank you for the clarity i will try to get some answers from GP.

And discuss if the need for folic acid.

You are like my mother as she says you are still young like her!Thanks for your kind contributions to the forum.

Happy New Year.

[Saya85 in reply to Advice1]

Just to add- a lot of folic acid fortified foods are bread grains and cereals !

So if your mother is on a gluten free diet this may very well explain why it's dropped further

Folate defiicnecy is common across the nation so it's not unusual - Def agree she needs supplementation

[Advice1 in reply to Saya85]

Thank you for your kind support and advice on fortified cereals i shall give her this good advice.

Good Luck.

[Gambit62 Administrator]

PA can affect absorption of other minerals and vitamins - particularly folate and iron.

If your mother is on any form of chemotherapy then she should follow up with her GP - some chemotherapy drugs interfere with folate and vice-versa.

High MCHC could be indicative of macrocytic anaemia -consequence of both B12 and folate deficiencies. The high RDW could suggest a mix of macrocytic and microcytic anaemia - though ferritin levels are good - but ferritin levels are only one indicator of iron status (deficiency would result in microcytic anaemia.

I'm not an expert in aaemia and there are other sorts and the results could indicate another type of anaemia entirely

[fbirder in reply to Gambit62]

'The high RDW could be indicative...'

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to fbirder]

thanks - have edited original

[Advice1 in reply to fbirder]

Thank you for your kind input

most appreciated for your kind advice and help.

Good Luck.

[Advice1 in reply to Gambit62]

Thank you Gambit62

for your explaination i will try to convince my mothers GP to look into

this ,you have to get records and copies of Blood test as sometimes a GP will leave any follow up unless you push for understanding the results an provide

clarity or sometimes people just get left behind without any treatment to treat or give an idea why there is a deficit.

I am not the person to let things go

without helping my family!

Thank for your support which is very kind.

Good Health,Good Luck.

[Ryaan]

Your Gp should have prescribed you 5mg Folic Acid 1 tablet daily to increase her levels as the results are showing your mother is deficient.

It would not be adequate to take 400ug strength which you get over the counter as her levels are too low. It would also be good to eat food high In Folate.

I’m sorry I don’t have a list but you could just google foods high in Folate.

[fbirder in reply to Ryaan]

400 mcg is twice the RDA for a non-pregnant person, so it should be enough to raise levels. nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-... In combination with a diet rich in leavy green veg, nuts, seeds and pulses it should be plenty.

[Saya85 in reply to fbirder]

Often women trying to get pregnant are recommended 5mg of folic acid rather than the 400ug if they have a high BMI.... I'm not sure why this would be but thought I'd put it out there.

Is it a greater need for it or that a high BMI would cause absorption issues/.other complicatoons etc ?

[fbirder in reply to Saya85]

I’ve not seen that.

[Advice1 in reply to Ryaan]

Thank you for your advice i will ask

the GP on the correct amount of folic acid in her situation.

Thanks for your time.