high folate
 

Hi-

Did not want to hijack another thread. I tried to find the significance of high folate and am still somewhat confused. When I checked my records, the two times I had the test the result was >20 with the reports saying "high folate is good." I saw on the other thread that this could be indicative of MTHFR deficiency. Is this something I should bring to the attention of my dr's?

Thanks,

Judie

Alot depends on which folic acid is being measured.

People with poor B12 levels, often have elevated folate.

Doctors often don't keep up on new information about nutrients.

Folate can be elevated if the measurement accounts for all forms of folic acid. It can also be part of the methyl trap, where B12 cannot be around to methylate so the methyl group gets stuck on folic acid, and the reverse does not happen...and sticks there useless.

So you want and need some details. What is your B12? You don't want high folate if your B12 is low. That leads to neurological damage.

Folic acid is supplemented in US foods, so low folate tests are not common anymore. And it could mean poor methylation status too.

Usually there will be some anemia if folate is low.

more discussion:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/28...-serum-levels/

There is beginning evidence that folic acid from food, (inactive), competes with methylfolate at the blood brain barrier. This would cause low folate in the spinal fluid and brain. I would not expect doctors to know this yet. And it is not 100% proven yet, just postulated.