 Test Folic Acid Levels can help with the following: | |  | | | Circulation |  Megaloblastic Anemia / Pernicious Anemia | Prevention of folic acid deficiency anemia involves eating raw or lightly-cooked vegetables every day. This will help maintain normal folic acid levels, as will taking a folic acid supplement containing at least 400mcg of this vitamin. Because folic acid deficiency can cause birth defects, all women of childbearing age who can become pregnant should consume at least 400mcg of folic acid daily; a woman who is pregnant should have regular medical checkups, and take a good prenatal vitamin.
CAUTION: It is always important to discover the underlying deficiency that is causing a megaloblastic anemia. Higher doses of folic acid (greater than 1mg per day) may improve or mask the anemia caused by a B12 insufficiency. Unless the B12 deficiency is corrected, permanent nervous system damage may result. In other words, don’t treat a B12 deficiency with high doses of folic acid! |
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Hormones |
 Histadelia (Histamine High)| | Under certain conditions, such as anticipated or actual pregnancy, a simple lab test for serum folate levels is advisable. If the test results show low levels, supplementation should be considered to prevent potential birth defects. |
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KEY | | Likely to help | | | Highly recommended |
GLOSSARY
Anemia (Anaemia, Anemias)
A condition resulting from an unusually low number of red blood cells or too little hemoglobin in the red blood cells. The most common type is iron-deficiency anemia in which the red blood cells are reduced in size and number, and hemoglobin levels are low. Clinical symptoms include shortness of breath, lethargy and heart palpitations.
Checkup (Check-up, Checkups, Check-ups)
A thorough physical examination that includes a variety of tests depending on the age, sex and health of the person.
Cobalamin (B12, B-12, Cobalamine, Vitamin B12)
Essential for normal growth and functioning of all body cells, especially those of bone marrow (red blood cell formation), gastrointestinal tract and nervous system, it prevents pernicious anemia and plays a crucial part in the reproduction of every cell of the body i.e. synthesis of genetic material (DNA).
Folic Acid
A B-complex vitamin that functions along with vitamin B-12 and vitamin C in the utilization of proteins. It has an essential role in the formation of heme (the iron containing protein in hemoglobin necessary for the formation of red blood cells) and DNA. Folic acid is essential during pregnancy to prevent neural tubular defects in the developing fetus.
Megaloblast (Megaloblastic, Megaloblasts)
An abnormally large nucleated red blood cell found especially in people having pernicious anemia or certain vitamin deficiencies.
Microgram (mcg, Micrograms, ug)
0.000001 or a millionth of a gram.
Milligram (mg, Milligrams)
0.001 or a thousandth of a gram.
Nervous System
A system in the body that is comprised of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, ganglia and parts of the receptor organs that receive and interpret stimuli and transmit impulses to effector organs.
Red Blood Cell (Erythrocyte, Erythrocytes, RBC, Red Blood Cells)
Any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and are responsible for the red color of blood.
Serum
The cell-free fluid of the bloodstream. It appears in a test tube after the blood clots and is often used in expressions relating to the levels of certain compounds in the blood stream.
Last updated: Apr 13, 2008
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