NeuroTalk Support Groups - B12 is fine, but folate and haptoglobin levels are high

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B12 is fine, but folate and haptoglobin levels are high

Now I am wondering about my latest round of blood-work. The levels I am most concerned with are:

Not my B12. . . it was 851

But my folate is 76 and my haptoglobin was 217.

The research I have done link this to inflammatory bowel disease and ongoing infection, among other possible causes. i can find what a low folate means, but there is very little on high folate levels.

My blood count levels were back in the normal range, whereas my last test I was slightly anemic.

I see my neurologist today about my EMG/NCV test results. Perhaps she will be able to shed some light on the values.

BTW . . . carpal tunnel stage 2 on the right, stage 3 on the left! Ugh!

to the best of my knowledge...

serum folate tests measure all folates. If you are not methylating folic acid to
methylfolate, then the precursor folates would build up, and since they are not active have no where to go except out thru the urine.

This is a similar finding in B6 measurements. Some people who do NOT take
any supplements may test very high in serum B6. This has been found in the autism community. B6 has to be activated to pyridoxal to work in the rest of the body. When this conversion fails, then it builds up in the serum/plasma and
reads "high".

A second cause for high folate could be consumption of folic acid enriched foods, or taking high doses of folic acid for some other reason.

Rose has commented on high folate readings in the past. I'll email her to look here.

Here is a complex paper with some suggestions:

Quote:

Serum Folate Levels
Folic acid deficiency in the United States is extremely rare because of the fortification of foods.27 Although tissue stores may be normal, serum folate levels can decrease within a few days of dietary folate restriction.24 Thus, patients should fast prior to testing for serum folate levels, as serum folate levels increase with feeding. Because of the high concentration of folate within the RBC, mild degrees of hemolysis can falsely elevate serum folate levels.24 Pregnancy, certain anticonvulsant drugs, and alcohol intake may also cause a decrease in serum levels despite adequate tissue stores. Serum folate levels tend to be increased in patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, presumably because of impairment of the methionine synthase pathway and accumulation of methyltetrahydrofolate, the principal form of folate in the serum.28–30

from http://www.clinmedres.org/cgi/content/full/4/3/236

I have seen rose respond that 800 values for B12 are not sterling...that people vary in what is not working for THEM...and that supplementing to higher levels often works when numbers like 800 come up.

Since you are new, you don't know rose. Here is her website:
http://roseannster.googlepages.com/home

This thread is also good.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread31766.html

Methylation chemistry in general is very complex. And failures in it occur in many places along the paths the nutrients take.

Hi. Just wanted to reiterate about the B-12.

My last blood test was last month. My B-12 level was 2000.

I take 5000 of the methyl at least 3 times a week. I used to take it every day. Actually I do feel better when I take it every day.

So I just might go back to taking it maybe 4 or 5 times a week. If it makes me feel better, have more energy, and, more important, IT STOPS THE BURNING IN MY FEET, well then, it's good enough for me.

Mel

MRSD . . .thanks for the links and the follow-up.

More blood-work ordered today, and some tests on urine (I assume for excreted substances) . . . and I get to go out and find wrist splints now! Oh, goody! Shopping for shoes was actually more fun!

It will be about three weeks before we have the new labs back.