Inflated folate

[Stongwave]

I have an inflated folate. Do I have to worry? -12.5 (3.00-12.00ng/mL. I had pains in the breast with red warm spots (apparently it was some inflammation) for 3 days. I stopped spraying myself with deodorant and began to smear with natural progesterone, but nevertheless I am worried. Should I insist on a serious examination after the symptoms are gone? Does this have anything with the thyroid gland, considering I've been taking t3 recently and feel better?

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK]

Are you taking any supplementary folate/folic acid?

[Stongwave in reply to helvella]

Yes, I had taken, but a week before the test I had stopped it. I had taken and iron to raise my ferritin.I thought iron should be taken with folic acid.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Stongwave]

How much folate/folic acid were you taking?

Some of us need no more than, maybe, 200 micrograms a day.

So far as I am aware, folic acid doesn't need supplementing along with iron. The usual thing is to take ascorbic acid alongside iron.

What is important is not to supplement folate/folic acid if you are deficient in vitamin B12.

Some folate levels just say greater than a number and don't give an upper limit. I wouldn't actually be concerned about the folate level alone.

I hope someone else can answer the other parts of the question.

[Stongwave in reply to helvella]

I had taken 800mg for a week. Thanks for the reassuring words.

[helvella Administrator Thyroid UK in reply to Stongwave]

I'm sure some need more, but the standard dose of folate/folic acid that is regarded as safe for most of us is 400 micrograms a day. Which is why that dose is widely available in supermarkets, etc.

Don't get me wrong, though, there some who do need the 5 milligram dose that only doctors can prescribe. But usually only for a fairly short time.

I sometimes take 400 micrograms but not every day. Maybe two a week?

[Stongwave in reply to helvella]

Yes, it is, that was reckless of me.