Folate level, I'm I in range?

[Cheryl1986]

Hi my folate has come back as 5.6 u/gl with a range written like (>5.40 u/gl) so does that mean I'm in range or not? If anyone could explain this to me please x

[clivealive Forum Support]

Hi Cheryl1986 You are only 0.2u/gl away from being deficient so if you are receiving treatment for a Vitamin B12 deficiency you probably need to supplement with folic acid or increase you diet of leafy green vegetables.

Did your doctor not suggest that?

I am not a medically trained person.

[Cheryl1986 in reply to clivealive]

No he didn't, I got informed by GP that my iron ferritin was very low and needed to have ferrous fumurate prescribed 3 tablets a day, but when I was looking over the results again I noticed the serum folate was quite low , but the GP has written next to it "within normal limits"

[Cheryl1986 in reply to clivealive]

I'm not b12 deficient , it lower but apparently within range mine is like 391 with a range of (188-900) , the only thing I'm treated for is iron deficiency. Do you know the normal serum folate amount in u/gl that a female should have?

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to Cheryl1986]

Sadly many doctors only read their screens instead of their patients and sadly just because one is "in range" doesn't mean that everything is getting into the cells - as is the case with B12.

Hopefully the link below will help:

royalberkshire.nhs.uk/Downl...

Please remember that 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.

I wish you well.

[waveylines in reply to clivealive]

Clivealive -may I just Thankyou. I find your posts very informative and helpful as am a new girl on the block finding my way in the last few months. Many thanks 😊😊

[Cheryl1986 in reply to clivealive]

Thank you Clive

[fbirder]

The folate test is both precise and accurate, and the normal ranges to a good job of sorting those who are deficient from those that aren’t.

It’s not at all like the B12 test, where people can be in the normal range, but have a deficiency or have below normal B12 but not be deficiency.

So your doctor is probably right not to be concerned. However, taking 400 mcg of folic acid a day can’t hurt and would be a good idea if it put your mind at rest.

[Cheryl1986 in reply to fbirder]

Ok thank you I'll look out for a folate tablet

[fbirder in reply to Cheryl1986]

Try looking at supermarket folic acid - doos value and has the same stuff as the expensive brands.

[Miss-guineapig in reply to Cheryl1986]

Hi Cheryl, I am prescribed 500mcg of folicate acid every second day. Now I can't recall why every second day is better than daily. I was initially prescribed it daily for 4 months and now every alternative day, maybe someone in the know can explain. Think it's because daily doses can mask something else...I'm not being very helpful but I do know that folic is important ...goodness I must be having a fussy head off day xx

[Cheryl1986 in reply to Miss-guineapig]

I think it can mask a b13 deficiency x

[fbirder in reply to Cheryl1986]

Having high levels of folate can prevent a B12 deficiency causing macrocytic anaemia. Lots of doctors use the presence of macrocytic anaemia as the one sign of a B12 deficiency - despite lots of people not suffering from it, even with a severe B12 deficiency.

If you've already been diagnosed with a B12 deficiency then it doesn't matter about folate. If your doctor is sensible enough to diagnose a deficiency in the absence of macrocytic anaemia then it doesn't matter.

[Cheryl1986 in reply to fbirder]

I haven't been diagnosed with b12 deficient only iron deficient ..do you think I'm very close to being folate deficient? With 5.6 u/gl result? (Range more than >5.40 u/gl) I been told I'm only 0.2 u/gl away from being "folate deficient" with me being iron deficient I'm surprised my DR never said