what is S.FOLIC ACID LEVEL?

Question

Mine level found 0, is this any danger?

Answer 1

The normal range in serum of folic acid ranges from6 to 20ng/ml. values of 4ng/ml or less are generally considered to be diagnostic of folic acid deficiency. The serum folic acid level abrupty rises with the increase of folic acid in diet however the folic acid content of RBC do not show such short term fluctuations following increased dietary intake hence is regarded as a better index of tissue folate store.
"Your level of 0" might be that Folic acid assay had not been done hence 0. Otherwise it cannot be nil. Please check up properly again.
If you have deficiency of folic acid that will be manifested as megaloblastic anemia which is detectable through a complete haemogram. The size of RBC is enlarged(MCV greater than 96 fl) in addition to various other changes in the shapes and sizes. Hence only saying that folic acid level 0 is incomplete.

Answer 2

Yes you are in danger - thank god u are not too late
Folic acid is need to protect your heart - it is seen low in ppl with depression, see low when you have malabsorption syndrome's or malnutrition - like crohn's disease - or ceileac disease, alcoholism

Best source is Amala, - ie Indian gooseberry and citrus food - it is season so have one or 2 a days will provide the needed without toxicity

Dietary Sources of Folic Acid
Dark green leafy vegetables
Citrus fruits and juices
Whole grain products
Kidney beans
Liver, chicken or beef

Consult Dr - and find the cause

Best of luck

Answer 3

India Chess Kabaddi Martial Arts(Kalaripayatu is tthe martial art from which most of the martial arts originated) Wrestling Carrom

Answer 4

Folate in liquid portion (plasma) of blood Normal:

2–20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL)


4–45 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) (SI units)


Folate in red blood cells Normal:

140–620 ng/mL


280–1420 nmol/L (SI units)

Folic Acid

A folic acid test measures the amount of folic acid in the blood. Folic acid is a B vitamin. The body needs folic acid in order to make red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), platelets, and new genetic material (DNA) in cells, and for normal growth. Folic acid also is important for the normal development of a baby (fetus).

Folic acid can be measured in the liquid portion of blood (plasma). This reflects a person's recent intake of folic acid in the diet. Folic acid is found in foods such as liver; citrus fruits; dark green, leafy vegetables (spinach); whole grains; cereals with added vitamins; beans; milk; kidney; and yeast.

Folic acid may also be measured in the red blood cells. This test may be a better way than the plasma test to measure the amount of folic acid stored in the body. The amount of folic acid in red blood cells measures the level when the cell was made, as much as 2 months earlier. This level is not usually affected by the amount of folic acid in the diet. It is more accurate to measure the body's level of folic acid.

Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant need extra folic acid to make more red blood cells and maintain normal growth of their baby. Women who do not get enough folic acid before and during pregnancy are more likely to have a child born with a birth defect, such as a cleft lip or cleft palate or a neural tube defect.

Folic acid deficiency can result in a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia. Mild folic acid deficiency usually does not cause any symptoms. Severe folic acid deficiency may cause a sore tongue, diarrhea, headaches, weakness, forgetfulness, and fatigue.
Why It Is Done

A folic acid test may be done to:

* Evaluate anemia. A folic acid test is often done at the same time as a test for vitamin B12 levels because a deficiency of either vitamin may cause anemia.
* Detect malnutrition or difficulty absorbing (malabsorption) folic acid.
* Monitor treatment for folic acid deficiency or vitamin B12 deficiency.
* Determine whether a woman has enough folic acid to prevent certain birth defects and allow her baby to grow normally.

How To Prepare

To prepare for a folic acid test, do not eat or drink for 8 to 10 hours before the test.
How It Is Done

The health professional drawing blood will:

* Wrap an elastic band around your upper arm to stop the flow of blood. This makes the veins below the band larger so it is easier to put a needle into the vein.
* Clean the needle site with alcohol.
* Put the needle into the vein. More than one needle stick may be needed.
* Attach a tube to the needle to fill it with blood.
* Remove the band from your arm when enough blood is collected.
* Apply a gauze pad or cotton ball over the needle site as the needle is removed.
* Apply pressure to the site and then a bandage.

How It Feels

You may feel nothing at all from the needle puncture, or you may feel a brief sting or pinch as the needle goes through the skin. Some people feel a stinging pain while the needle is in the vein. However, many people do not feel any pain (or have only minor discomfort) once the needle is positioned in the vein. The amount of pain you feel depends on the skill of the health professional drawing the blood, the condition of your veins, and your sensitivity to pain.

Risks

There is very little risk of complications from having blood drawn from a vein.

* You may develop a small bruise at the puncture site. You can reduce the risk of bruising by keeping pressure on the site for several minutes after the needle is withdrawn.
* Rarely, the vein may become inflamed after the blood sample is taken. This condition is called phlebitis and is usually treated with a warm compress applied several times daily.
* Continued bleeding can be a problem for people with bleeding disorders. aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), and other blood-thinning medications can also make bleeding more likely. If you have bleeding or clotting problems, or if you take blood-thinning medication, tell your health professional before your blood is drawn.

Results

A folic acid test measures the amount of folic acid in the blood. Normal values vary from lab to lab.
Folate in liquid portion (plasma) of blood Normal:

2–20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL)


4–45 nanomoles per liter (nmol/L) (SI units)


Folate in red blood cells Normal:

140–620 ng/mL


280–1420 nmol/L (SI units)
High values

* High levels of folic acid in the blood usually indicate a diet rich in folic acid, taking vitamins, or taking folic acid pills. Consuming more folic acid than the body needs usually does not cause problems.
* High folic acid levels can also indicate a vitamin B12 deficiency. Body cells need vitamin B12 to use folic acid. Therefore, if vitamin B12 levels are very low, folic acid cannot be used by the cells, and high levels of it may build up in the blood. However, a folic acid test is not a reliable way to test for a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Low values

* Low folic acid levels can indicate a problem with the diet, alcohol dependence, or an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa.
* Low folic acid levels can also indicate a problem absorbing or using folic acid, such as a vitamin C deficiency, liver disease, celiac disease, sprue, or Crohn's disease.
* Low folic acid levels can cause problems for certain people. For example:
o A pregnant woman needs additional folic acid for her growing baby (fetus).
o People who have hemolytic anemia, a condition that causes the rapid destruction of red blood cells. People with hemolytic anemia need more folic acid to make more red blood cells.
o People with certain conditions, such as kidney failure and some types of cancer may use up folic acid, which may require the blood to be cleaned using a machine (kidney dialysis).

What Affects the Test

Factors that can interfere with your test or the accuracy of the results include:

* Medications, such as birth control pills, phenytoin (Dilantin), pyrimethamine (Daraprim), methotrexate, trimethoprim (Proloprim), pentamidine (Pentam 300), triamterene (Dyrenium), primidone (Mysoline), and phenobarbital.
* Alcohol.
* Conditions such as vitamin B12 anemia or iron-deficiency anemia.
* A radioactive scan in the last 48 hours.
* Long-term use of antacids.

What To Think About

* It is important to meet the daily recommended intake of folic acid to prevent folic acid deficiency anemia. Many foods contain folic acid, such as citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, and vitamin-fortified cereals. In addition, vitamin supplements usually contain folic acid.
* Taking folic acid before and during pregnancy can reduce the chance of having a baby with a neural tube defect or other birth defects, such as cleft lip or cleft palate. All women of childbearing age should take a daily supplement containing 0.4 mg folic acid. Women who have a family history of neural tube defects, or who have had a previous infant with a neural tube defect, should take a daily supplement containing 4 mg folic acid.
* The folic acid test is often done at the same time as a test for vitamin B12. For more information, see the medical test Vitamin B12.
* Research studies are being done to determine whether folic acid supplements help reduce the risk of certain forms of cancer, such as colon cancer.
* Blood plasma levels of folic acid can be increased by eating foods rich in folate. If folic acid deficiency anemia is a concern, folic acid levels in the red blood cells can be measured.
* Homocysteine is an amino acid that is normally found in small amounts in the blood. However, in an inherited disorder called hyperhomocysteinemia, levels of homocysteine in the blood are abnormally high, which may promote atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Research has shown that folic acid lowers homocysteine levels. The American Heart Association recommends a healthy, balanced diet to provide the recommended daily amount of folic acid. Studies have shown that folic acid supplements may not lower the risk of heart disease or stroke.1, 2 For more information, see the medical test Homocysteine.