Folate, also known as folic acid or vitamin B9, plays several important roles in the body, including in making DNA, which is your unique genetic code. An inadequate level of folate in the body, called folate deficiency, can lead to anemia and other changes to your health. Anemia may cause symptoms like weakness, shortness of breath, and mental changes.
A folate test may be ordered after an abnormal blood test result, or if your health care provider suspects low levels of folate are creating health problems. Testing for folate requires a sample of blood.
The purpose of measuring folate is to assess whether the body has a healthy level of this essential nutrient. Folate testing is generally performed for the purposes of diagnosing and monitoring health conditions that are caused by folate deficiency.
Diagnosis
Folate testing is most commonly performed to check for a folate deficiency, which means low levels of folate. Your health care provider may order a folate test to follow up on an abnormal blood test. Testing may also be ordered if you are experiencing symptoms that could be caused by a folate deficiency.
Detecting low folate levels may lead to a diagnosis of megaloblastic anemia. Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough red blood cells. Megaloblastic anemia is caused by low levels of folate or low levels of vitamin B12.
Monitoring
Patients being treated for a folate deficiency may be monitored with folate testing to see if their folate levels have become normal. Some patients with inflammatory bowel disease may have routine testing of folate and other nutrients if they take medications that affect folate levels, especially if they have symptoms of other health problems like anemia.
A folate test measures the level of this essential vitamin in your body. Folate plays an important role in many vital processes in the body. The body needs folate to:
During pregnancy, extra folate is needed to enable proper growth of the tissues and cells of the fetus.
Folate is naturally present in many foods, including leafy greens, citrus fruits, beef liver, nuts, and beans. In addition, a synthetic (artificially created) form of folate, folic acid, is added to many foods. Folate deficiencies are uncommon in healthy individuals who eat an adequate diet.
Unlike some vitamins that are stored in fat tissues, folate is water soluble. This means that if you consume more folate than you need, the unneeded amounts of the vitamin leave your body through your urine.
Folate vs folic acid
The terms folate and folic acid may be used interchangeably. However, they mean slightly different things:
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires food companies to add folic acid to the following foods:
Folate testing is most often performed to check for a folate deficiency. Your health care provider may order folate testing for you if you have had an abnormal complete blood count (CBC) or blood smear test result that suggested you have megaloblastic anemia. Megaloblastic anemia is a type of anemia where the red blood cells are abnormally large, deformed, and do not mature properly.
Megaloblastic anemia may be caused by folate or vitamin B12 deficiency. In its early stages, megaloblastic anemia often does not cause any symptoms.
Your doctor may also order folate testing because you are showing symptoms of folate deficiency, which include:
If you are currently being treated with folate supplementation because of a previously diagnosed folate deficiency, your doctor may test your folate to ensure treatment has been effective.
