Serum Folate Level Help Please!

[Sallybones]

Any thoughts please lovely people as I'm getting in a bit of a pickle again.

Had to have FBC before I see Memory Clinic man.

my latest folate result is - Serum folate level 4.3 ug/L [3.1 - 19.9] .

GP thinks this is satisfactory!

I'm not sure whether to supplement or not.

I self inject with B12 and so my level is top of range.

Thanks SallyB

[Nackapan]

maybe take 200-400mcg daily of folic acid daily.

400mcg is recommended if you of child bearing age by the NHS daily

I keep my level higher than that .

Your is in range but wouldnt take much to drop under.

Lots of lovely greens in season too.

G.ps know very little about vitamins unfortunately ive asked many.

[Sallybones in reply to Nackapan]

thanks Nackapan. My diet is very limited and I struggle to eat a varied range of foods. I'm awaiting upper GI motility study results. So I think it probably is worth supplementing then.

[Sleepybunny]

Hi,

Have you asked your GP if you'd benefit from taking the recommended daily amount of folic acid?

If GP says yes, go ahead and supplement.

If GP says no, put them on the spot politely and ask why they think you won't benefit.

Pharmacist might also be worth talking to.

I can't see any likely issues with taking up to the RDA of folic acid but I'm not medically trained.

Can you get hold of previous folate results to see if the amount has been dropping over time?

NHS link about B vitamins, mentions RDA of various B vitamins including folate/folic acid

nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-...

[Sallybones in reply to Sleepybunny]

thanks Sleepybunny. I will ask my GP that at next face to face in about 4 weeks time. See what pharmacist says first as he's a lovely chap and very helpful. As I just said to Nackapan I'm waiting gut motility results and my diet is very restricted.

I'll look back at my previous bloods when I'm more alert. My brain needs all the help it can get : )

[Sallybones in reply to Sallybones]

just to say I managed to find my previous folate results on my computer and I've gradually dropped from 10.7 (3.1 - 19.9) in 2016 to the latest 4.3 same range. So think supplements in order. Thanks both for responding : )

[tootsiedadoots in reply to Sallybones]

B12 uses folic acid , so it this co-dependent relationship. My folate was low end around 4.1? I was injecting b12 every other day, I supplemented 5 mcg folic acid but my folate shot up to 40 in 9 weeks. I’m not sure how long folic acid stays in your system, but I had missed my b12 for 4 days so that may have left unused folic acid?

I’ve seen recommendations of 5 mg folic acid for daily or every other day b12 injections, but unsure if this much is needed. I’m now doing 1,600 mcg per day as I was having gastrointestinal issues as well and wasn’t sure of the cause.

[Sallybones in reply to tootsiedadoots]

thanks tootsiedadoots thats very helpful.

[tootsiedadoots in reply to Sallybones]

I’ve recently gotten conflicting information that b12 does NOT require folic acid, so who to believe? Unsure . If your folic acid levels are low, start at 400 mcg , take with food if stomach upset occurs and keep a journal of symptoms, meds, supplement, food etc.

[Ryaan]

You could perhaps benefit from taking 5mg for a few weeks to increase your levels and then go on a 400mcg daily dose for maintenance.

I would ask the GP or pharmacist about taking 5mg as your levels are close to bottom end.

[Sallybones in reply to Ryaan]

thanks Ryaan I think I'll try 400mcg daily and see if that helps first and when I see my GP in about 4 weeks time I'll ask her what she thinks. And if i feel a bit better by then I'll know its helped. A bonus : )