Extremely high folate.

[Rachel_81]

Hi!

I have just received blood test results and I am curious.

My serum Folic acid levels are 416.5 ng/mL (range 3.0 to 30.0) and B12 is 441 pg/mL (range 200-2100).

I was taking Folic acid supplements as I would like to get pregnant this year 5mg but I havent taken them for a month (I ran out of them).

I have severe constipation (my endocrinologist is treating me for subclinical hypothyroidism).

Why would the levels be so high?

Any ideas?

Thanks!!!

[Hidden]

Hello Rachel,

Welcome to our forum.

I would think your folate is high because your body hasn't had the time get rid of it.

This may happen over time but take a while. I have MTHFR (a faulty gene that impairs detoxification) and a 50 -60% risk of impairment. This means my body is unable to detoxify easily (get rid of) and I still show very high levels of B12 even though I haven't supplemented high levels for a long time.

This faulty gene is very common but this may not be your problem. It may just be taking your body a while longer to detoxify.

Its important to remember the amount measured in your circulating blood may not be the amount that is usable as too much can block the receptor sites.

Therefore, I am still supplementing small amount of B12.

Is your endo prescribing regarding your thyroid?

Flower

[Rachel_81 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!

I am currently on Levothyroxine 112mcg. I will be seeing her in October to see if the dose needs adjusting. My symptoms like mental fog and fatigue have improved but I am still very constipated ( I cant go at all without laxatives, I can go 14 days without any action) and still gaining weight (though decreased intake of food).

[Clutter]

Rachel81, you should certainly stop supplementing folic acid until your folate is within range. Your B12 is low in range, high in range is best, PA Society say 1,000 is optimal. Supplement 1,000mcg methylcobalamin sublingual lozenges, spray or patches and take a B Complex vitamin to keep the other B vits balanced. Higher B12 will use up some of the excess folate.

livestrong.com/article/4081...

cebp.aacrjournals.org/conte...

[Rachel_81 in reply to Clutter]

Thanks Clutter, I have been off the folic acid for 2 months now, they were prescribed by my doctor.

She seemed to think the B12 was normal but I agree with you that it is low in the range, I'll definitely follow your advice and supplement.

Thanks for the links to the articles!

[Clutter in reply to Rachel_81]

Rachel, it's good to have B12 high as pregnancy makes huge demands on the body. Your GP should be able to advise re high folate and conception. Not sure it's a problem, it's low folate which can cause foetal defects.

NICE recommend TSH of hypothyroid women should be in the low-normal range 0.4-2.0 with FT4 in the upper range. Levothyroxine is usually increased by 25-50mcg when pregnancy is confirmed.

cks.nice.org.uk/hypothyroid...

[Hidden in reply to Clutter]

"Folate supplementation and too much of a good thing"...Excellent & interesting link Clutter

F

[Rachel_81]

I stopped one month before the blood test and the test is 1 month old (so 2 months since supplementing) I will ask in October to get my levels checked again.

I guess I should wait for the level to go down (and B12 up) before attempting to get pregnant.

I wonder how long it must take to decrease?