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Hi, I would be interested to know what is the average reading for vitamin b12 and folate deficiency. My bloods came back with readings of serum vitamin b12 52ng/L and serum folate 2.6ug/L. Is there any cause for concern?
1 like, 3 replies
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liam93 sharon73176
Posted
Interpretation
B12:Concentration of vitamin B12 <180 ng/l="" may="" cause="" megaloblastic="" anemia="" and/or="" peripheral="" neuropathies. vitamin="" b12="" concentrations=""><150 ng/l="" are="" considered="" evidence="" of="" vitamin="" b12="" deficiency. vitamin="" b12="" concentrations="" between="" 150="" ng/l="" and="" 300="" ng/l="" are="" considered="" borderline. follow-up="" testing="" for="" antibodies="" to="" intrinsic="" factor="" (if)="" (ifba="" intrinsic="" factor="" blocking="" antibody,="" serum)="" is="" recommended="" to="" identify="" this="" potential="" cause="" of="" vitamin="" b12="" malabsorption. for="" specimens="" without="" antibodies,="" follow-up="" testing="" of="" vitamin="" b12="" tissue="" deficiency="" by="" measuring="" methylmalonic="" acid="" (mma)="" (mmas="" methylmalonic="" acid="" [mma],="" quantitative,="" serum)="" and/or="" homocysteine="" (hcysp="" homocysteine,="" total,="" plasma)="" may="" be="" indicated="" if="" the="" patient="" is="" symptomatic. a="" normal="" serum="" concentration="" of="" vitamin="" b12="" does="" not="" rule="" out="" tissue="" deficiency="" of="" vitamin="" b12.="" the="" most="" sensitive="" test="" for="" vitamin="" b12="" deficiency="" at="" the="" cellular="" level="" is="" the="" assay="" for="" mma.="" if="" clinical="" symptoms="" suggest="" deficiency,="" measurement="" of="" mma="" and="" homocysteine="" should="" be="" considered,="" even="" if="" serum="" vitamin="" b12="" concentrations="" are="" normal. folate:serum="" folate="" is="" a="" relatively="" nonspecific="" test.(4)="" low="" serum="" folate="" levels="" may="" be="" seen="" in="" the="" absence="" of="" deficiency="" and="" normal="" levels="" may="" be="" seen="" in="" patients="" with="" macrocytic="" anemia,="" dementia,="" neuropsychiatric="" disorders,="" and="" pregnancy="" disorders. results=""><4 mcg/l are suggestive of folate deficiency. the cut-off is based on consensus and was derived from the us nhanes iii data.(5) evaluation of macrocytic anemias commonly requires measurement of the serum concentration of both vitamin b12 and folate; ideally they should be measured at the same point in time. additional testing with homocysteine and mma determinations may help distinguish between b12 and folate deficiency states. in folate deficiency, homocysteine levels are elevated and mma levels are normal. in vitamin b12 deficiency, both homocysteine levels and mma levels are elevated. see pernicious anemia testing cascade in special instructions.
i hope that helps you understand your levels ill also ask at the surgery when i go for my first jab. mcg/l="" are="" suggestive="" of="" folate="" deficiency.="" the="" cut-off="" is="" based="" on="" consensus="" and="" was="" derived="" from="" the="" us="" nhanes="" iii="" data.(5) evaluation="" of="" macrocytic="" anemias="" commonly="" requires="" measurement="" of="" the="" serum="" concentration="" of="" both="" vitamin="" b12="" and="" folate;="" ideally="" they="" should="" be="" measured="" at="" the="" same="" point="" in="" time. additional="" testing="" with="" homocysteine="" and="" mma="" determinations="" may="" help="" distinguish="" between="" b12="" and="" folate="" deficiency="" states.="" in="" folate="" deficiency,="" homocysteine="" levels="" are="" elevated="" and="" mma="" levels="" are="" normal.="" in="" vitamin="" b12="" deficiency,="" both="" homocysteine="" levels="" and="" mma="" levels="" are="" elevated. see="" pernicious="" anemia="" testing="" cascade="" in="" special="" instructions.="" i="" hope="" that="" helps="" you="" understand="" your="" levels="" ill="" also="" ask="" at="" the="" surgery="" when="" i="" go="" for="" my="" first="">
i hope that helps you understand your levels ill also ask at the surgery when i go for my first jab.>
sharon73176 liam93
Posted
jeanp sharon73176
Posted
when I get my blood test results, I always ask for a print out. They come with a range considered normal as well as what my level is. As there are different ways of testing and different labs might set different ranges, I think it is best to do this as the ranges can vary quite a lot.