FOLATE, SERUM

LAB69

FOLIC ACID

Blood

Protect from lightProtect from light

Plain Red (7RD)

Refrigerate

Hemolysis

Set Up:Daily Report Available:same day

Folate, serum

4.2-19.9 ng/mL

Folate and Folic acid are general terms for a family of compounds related to pteroic acid. Although various forms of folic acid are normally present in human serum and other body fluids, the principal form is N 5 methylthetrahydrofolate. Folate coenzymes are essential for the transfer of single carbonic units. Five of the major reactions are conversions of serine to glycine, catabolism of histidine, and synthesis of thymidylate, methionine and purine. Different folates are involved in these reactions, depending on the chemical state of the single carbon fragments transferred. Folate is absorbed from dietary sources such as green leafy vegetables. After cellular uptake, most of the folate is reduced and methylated and enters the circulation as N 5 methylthetrahydrofolate. Dietary sources provide approximately 500 mcg of folate per day. The human daily requirement for folate is approximately 50 mcg. Body stores are approximately 5 mg. Decreased absorption of folate may result in deficiency within a few months. Deficiency of folate may result from the absence of intestinal microorganisms, poor intestinal absorption, insufficient dietary intake, excessive demands (as in pregnancy, liver disease and malignancies) administration of antifolate drugs (e.g. methotrexate) and anticonvulsant therapy. Megaloblastic anemia is the major clinical manifestation of folate deficiency, although sensory loss and neuropsychiatric changes also occur. Combined deficiency of both folate and iron commonly occurs in malnourished persons.