Other names: FOLATE, SERUM, FOLIC ACID, Folate (Folic Acid), Serum, FOLATE,SERUM
What is Folate and Why is it Important?
Folate, a vital B vitamin (B9), is essential for various bodily functions, including the production of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and supporting normal cell growth. This nutrient is crucial for fetal development, playing a key role in forming a healthy brain and spinal cord in the early stages of pregnancy. Since the body cannot produce folate on its own, it must be obtained through foods like citrus fruits, dark leafy greens, whole grains, beans, B-vitamin-enriched cereals, as well as kidney and liver.
Why Might You Need a Folate Test?
A healthcare provider may order a folate test for various reasons, including:
- Identifying the cause of anemia (low red blood cell count)
- Checking for malnutrition or malabsorption issues (e.g., celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease)
- Monitoring treatment for folate deficiency
- Ensuring pregnant individuals have sufficient folic acid to help prevent birth defects
Folate's Role in Pregnancy and Fetal Health
Adequate folate levels are critical in the first few weeks of pregnancy, as low folate can prevent the neural tube from closing properly, leading to neural tube defects, such as:
- Spina bifida: incomplete development of the spinal cord or vertebrae
- Anencephaly: incomplete development of major parts of the brain
To reduce the risk of these defects, expecting mothers are recommended to consume 400 micrograms of folate daily, especially during the early stages of pregnancy when the neural tube is developing.
Folate vs. Folic Acid: What’s the Difference?
Though often used interchangeably, folate and folic acid are distinct forms of vitamin B9:
- Folate refers to the naturally occurring form found in food, including green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, and beans.
- Folic acid is the synthetic version of folate, commonly added to supplements and fortified foods like rice, pasta, bread, and some breakfast cereals. Research shows folic acid effectively prevents neural tube defects, making it a critical addition to prenatal care.
Types of Folate:
Folate is a general term for various forms of vitamin B9, including folic acid, dihydrofolate (DHF), tetrahydrofolate (THF), 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate (5,10-MTHF), and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). While supplements may contain forms like 5-MTHF, their effectiveness in preventing neural tube defects hasn’t been extensively studied, unlike folic acid.
Folate Reference Ranges (ng/mL):
Maintaining adequate folate intake, whether from food, supplements, or a combination, is essential for overall health and particularly crucial during pregnancy.
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Seeing a high folate level on your lab results can be confusing—but in most cases, it’s not a cause for concern.
Folate (also known as vitamin B9) is a water-soluble vitamin found in leafy greens, beans, fortified foods, and supplements. Because it’s water-soluble, your body can flush out extra amounts through urine. This means that high folate levels are usually due to a folate-rich diet or folic acid supplements—and they rarely cause harm.
Most labs consider levels above 20 ng/mL (45.3 nmol/L) to be elevated, although many do not define a strict upper limit. Levels above 24–30 ng/mL may raise some flags, especially if you're not taking supplements or eating unusually high amounts of folate.
Yes. In some cases, a high folate level may actually be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency. Your body needs vitamin B12 to properly use folate. Without enough B12, folate can build up in your blood—even though your cells can’t use it effectively. This can mask symptoms of B12 deficiency, like fatigue, brain fog, or nerve issues.
A high folate result does not confirm or rule out vitamin B12 deficiency. If there’s any suspicion of low B12, it’s important to test vitamin B12 directly—along with markers like methylmalonic acid (MMA) and homocysteine—for a clearer picture.
Anthony
Unlimited Plan Member since 2021
I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Karin
Advanced Plan Member since 2020
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
A low Folate level may mean you have a problem with your diet, alcohol dependence, or an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa. It may also mean you have a problem absorbing or using Folate, such as: vitamin C deficiency, liver disease, celiac disease, or Crohn’s disease. Signs and symptom of folate deficiency include:
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Rapid or irregular heart rate
- Confusion
- Paranoia
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Anthony
Unlimited Plan Member since 2021
I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Karin
Advanced Plan Member since 2020
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
Healthmatters is a highly-personalized health dashboard.
Instead of searching for your lab results in different places or tracking them down from different providers, Healthmatters houses, organizes, and interprets them all in one central location.
With a Healthmatters account, you can dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data, anytime, anywhere.
For our professional users, Healthmatters provides intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.
It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
If you’re on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.
There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.
We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.
Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.
For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.
Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.
Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.
The Unlimited plan is a one-time purchase for $250, and it covers your account for a lifetime with no additional payments.
For the Complete plan, the cost is $15 per month. You have the flexibility to cancel it anytime through your account settings, ensuring no further payments. To avoid charges, remember to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Once canceled, the subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle.
Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.
You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.
Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.
Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.
We’ve crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.
1. Graph View:Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.
2. All Tests ViewExplore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.
3. Table View:For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.
Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.
Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.
Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.
Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.
To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
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2-Methylcitric Acid, Serum, Antiparietal Cell Antibody, Biotin (Vitamin B7), Calcitriol (1,25 di-OH Vit D), Carotene, Carotene, Beta, Copper, Pl, Cystathionine, Serum, Des-g-carboxy Prothrombin (DCP), Holotranscobalamin (active Vitamin B12), Intrinsic Factor Antibodies (Serum), Intrinsic Factor Blocking Antibody, Manganese, Manganese, Blood, Methylmalonic Acid, Serum, Nicotinamide, Nicotinic Acid, Phosphate (Phosphorus), Potassium, Plasma, Potassium, RBC, Pyridoxal 5-Phosphate (PLP), Pyridoxic Acid (Pa), B6Pro, Retinol binding Protein (RbP), Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Vitb2, Vit B12 Binding Capacity, Unsat (Transcobalamin), Vitamin A, Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Vitamin B1 (Thiamine), Blood, Vitamin B12, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Plasma, Vitamin B2, Whole Blood, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B6, Plasma, Vitamin B7, Vitamin B9 (Folate), Vitamin C, Vitamin D, 25-Hydroxy, Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol), Vitamin E (Gamma Tocopherol), Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Vitamin E, Beta Gamma Tocopherol, Vitamin K, Vitamin K1, Zinc, RBC
