FOLIC ACID
Description
- 3-17 ng/ml
Clinical significance
- Folic acid is a water soluble vitamin of B complex group.Folate ( Vit B9) refers to a natural occurring form of the vitamin , whereas folic acid refers to the supplement added to foods and drinks. Folate is essential for hematopoiesis and is necessary for cell division in a developing foetus.
- Folate deficiency may cause poor growth, greying of hair, inflammation of the tongue ( glossitis ), mouth ulcer ,peptic ulcers and diarrhoea.
- Folate deficiency results in Haemolytic and megaloblastic anaemia
- Serum folate serves to distinguish combined deficiency from vitamin B12 deficiency alone
- Low serum folate indicates only negative folate balance ,not folate deficiency
When to get tested
- When there are s/s of Deficiency ( Dizziness, Fatigue , Sore tongue and mouth , Irritability etc. )
Elevated level
- Pernicious anaemia
- Period following folic acid administration
- Blood transfusions
- Vegetarians
- False elevation in hemolyzed blood and iron deficiency anaemia
Decreased level
- Alcoholism –most common cause
- Chronic diseases
- Anorexia nervosa
- Infancy, prematurity, elderly patients
- Haemodialysis
- Pregnancy
- Hypothyroidism
- Neoplasia (Acute leukemia, Metastatic carcinoma)
- Haemolytic anaemia
- Ineffective erythropoiesis ( sideroblastic anaemia)
- Exfoliative dermatitis, Psoriasis
- Malabsorption
- Defect in utilisation due to certain enzyme deficiencies
- Drugs-Folic acid antagonistic (eg. Methotrexate, O.C pills)
Profile
Anaemia
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