What Causes Abnormal Folic Acid Levels?

To successfully treat and prevent recurrence of abnormal folic acid levels we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors. We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow abnormal folic acid levels to develop?"

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Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind abnormal folic acid levels consists of three steps:

Step 1: List the Possible Causative Factors

Identify all disease conditions, lifestyle choices and environmental risk factors that can lead to abnormal folic acid levels. Here are four possibilities:

Megaloblastic Anemia
Crohn's Disease
Ulcerative Colitis
Alcohol Consequences

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

Identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

frequent unexplained fevers

colitis in family members

reduced sense of smell

meals worsen right iliac pain

joint pain/swelling/stiffness

frequent sleepwalking

moderate hypogastric pain

major unexplained weight loss

elevated ESR

somewhat elevated basophil count

frequent painful urge to defecate

significant red blood in stools

... and more than 50 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of abnormal folic acid levels:

Cause	Probability	Status
Crohn's Disease	92%	Confirm
Ulcerative Colitis	15%	Unlikely
Megaloblastic Anemia	3%	Ruled out
Alcohol Consequences	3%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate having had recent lab tests, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Folic Acid. Unit: nmol/L

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ Confirmed deficiency in the past
→ Under 10 (low)
→ 10 to 30 (normal)
→ Over 30 (elevated)

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate history of folic acid deficiency, low folic acid level, normal folic acid level or high folic acid level, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Crohn's Disease

All inflammatory bowel disease patients are prone to low serum folate levels.

Ulcerative Colitis

All inflammatory bowel disease patients are prone to low serum folate levels.

Megaloblastic Anemia / Pernicious Anemia

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™