What does it mean if serum folate is low?

Research has shown a lack of folate in your body may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is a general term that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels, such as coronary heart disease (CHD).

What causes low folate levels?

Folate deficiency caused by a lack of dietary folate is more common in people who have a generally unbalanced and unhealthy diet, people who regularly misuse alcohol, and people following a restrictive diet that does not involve eating good sources of folate.

How do you treat low folate?

To treat folate deficiency anaemia, your GP will usually prescribe daily folic acid tablets to build up your folate levels. They may also give you dietary advice so you can increase your folate intake.
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Good sources of folate include:

1. broccoli.
2. brussels sprouts.
3. asparagus.
4. peas.
5. chickpeas.
6. brown rice.

What are the risks of low folate?

Complications of folate deficiency

• Infertility. As with a lack of vitamin B12, a folate deficiency can also affect your fertility. …
• Cardiovascular disease. …
• Cancer. …
• Problems in childbirth. …
• Neural tube defects and folic acid.

Is low folic acid serious?

Although it's uncommon, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency (with or without anaemia) can lead to complications, particularly if you have been deficient in vitamin B12 or folate for some time. Potential complications can include: problems with the nervous system. temporary infertility.

Should I worry about low folic acid?

Although it's uncommon, vitamin B12 or folate deficiency (with or without anaemia) can lead to complications, particularly if you have been deficient in vitamin B12 or folate for some time. Potential complications can include: problems with the nervous system. temporary infertility.

What cancers are low in folate?

Research has shown that folate deficiency can increase your risk of some cancers, such as colon cancer.

What are symptoms of low folate?

Folate deficiency occurs when your body doesn't get enough folate. Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, mouth sores and neurological issues. Folate deficiency can be prevented by eating a diet rich in foods that contain folate.

Which is one of the first symptoms of folate deficiency?

Headache, dizziness, pallor and shortness of breath are also symptoms of anemia. Anemia, particularly megaloblastic anemia, is often the first sign that there is an underlying folate deficiency, and doctors will usually test for folate and Vitamin B12 deficiencies when they encounter anemia.

Can you gain weight from folate deficiency?

Furthermore, folate deficiency may lead to body weight gain and adiposity [12]. Several studies has indicated a link between low folate intake or low serum folate concentration and greater body mass, BMI, overall fat accumulation, and higher waist circumference [13,14,15,16].

Is low folate common?

Both vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency are more common in older people, affecting around 1 in 10 people aged 75 or over and 1 in 20 people aged 65 to 74.

Is low folate the same as anemia?

That's a protein in red blood cells that helps carry oxygen throughout the body. You can also become anemic by not getting enough folate (vitamin B9), the natural form of folic acid found in foods.

How serious is folate deficiency?

Folate-deficiency anemia during pregnancy may cause a neural tube defect. This is when the brain or spinal cord doesn't develop normally. It can cause death before or soon after birth. Or it may cause paralysis of the legs.

What are the side effects of low folate?

Vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia can cause a wide range of symptoms. These usually develop gradually, but can worsen if the condition goes untreated.

• rapid breathing or shortness of breath.
• headaches.
• indigestion.
• loss of appetite.
• palpitations.
• problems with your vision.
• feeling weak or tired.
• diarrhoea.