Folate is the naturally occurring form found in foods; folic acid is the supplement/synthetic form. Folate is more bioavailable.
Once in circulation, folate gets methylated.
Methyl-tetrahydrofolate is the most abundant folate in circulation and it functions with vitamin B12 in methylation reactions to reduce
homocysteine, but is also involved in DNA synthesis, and red blood cell synthesis.
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What does it mean if your Folate (RBC) result is too low?
OPTION A:
If Folate (RBC) is low and Folate (Serum) is normal/excess:
Short term, status of micro nutrients is optimal, but cellular absorption may be a problem.
Recommend interventions:
- increase dietary intake of nutrient
- increase supplementation dosage
- consider status of synergistic nutrients for cellular absorption
- consider levels of oxidative stress on nutrient depletion
- consider follow-up testing to identify the source of my absorption.
OPTION B:
If Folate (RBC) is low and Folate (Serum) is low as well:
Short term and long term status of micro nutrients is not optimal, suggesting low dietary intake, and both intestinal and cellular absorption as possible causes.
Recommended interventions:
- Increase dietary intake of nutrient
- Increase supplementation dosage.
- Medications may have an effect on depletion
- Consider follow up testing to identify the source of malabsorption.
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How it gets depleted:
Folate can be depleted by use of methotrexate, anticonvulsants, antacids, and oral contraceptives.
Clinical Manifestations of Depletion:
- Deficiency of folate can manifest as anemia. Megoblastic anemia will also involve vitamin B12.
- Often folate deficiency is secondary to vitamin B12 deficiency because conversion to 5-methyl folate is B12 dependent.
- Symptoms of B12 deficiency can include: elevated homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia), neural tube defects if mother is deficient during pregnancy, mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, particularly in the elderly, and fatigue, impaired immune function, and cardiovascular disease.
Food Sources:
Food sources of folate include: green leafy vegetables, legumes (especially black-eyed peas) and lentils, brewer’s yeast, and brown rice. Folate is easily destroyed by cooking.
*Enriched grains are a supplemental source of folate
Supplement Options:
- The RDA for folate is 400 mcg/day for adults and 600 mcg/day in pregnant women.
- Consider MTHFR mutations before supplementing. Even in the presence of MTHFR mutations, individuals can be either under- or over-methylated, and supplementation should include a thorough review of levels of other co-factors and nutrients involved in methylation cycles.
- Doses of folate ranging from 400 mcg to 10 mg have been used clinically. A more common therapeutic range is 400 to 1000 mcg per day.
- Supplemental doses have been recommended not to exceed 400 mcg/day, because folic acid supplementation may mask the symptoms of B12 deficiency.
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