REASON FOR TESTING OF VITAMIN B12 AND FOLATE/FOLIC ACID

Vitamin B12 and Folate are ordered in routine health check-up along with CBC .It is also ordered in patient who are showing following symptoms.

• Pale skin
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhoea
• Sore tongue and mouth
• Numbness , tingling and burning in hands and feet ( vitamin B12 )
• Chronic deficiency in patient.

WHAT IS BEING TESTED IN VITAMIN B12 AND FOLATE/FOLIC ACID

Vitamin B12 and Folate are required for red blood cell (RBC) formation, tissue and cells repair, synthesis of DNA. B12 is essential for proper nerve function.

INTERPRETATION OF VITAMIN B12 AND FOLATE/FOLIC ACID TEST RESULT

Decreased level of Vitamin B12 and Folate

• Dietary deficiency of folate or B12

• Malabsorption--both B12 and folate deficiencies may be seen with conditions that interfere with their absorption in the small intestine.
  These may include:

  • Pernicious anaemia (most common cause of B12 deficiency).
  
  
  • Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis .
  
  
  • Celiac disease .
  
  
  • Bacterial overgrowth or the presence of parasites in the intestine.
  
  
• Chronic alcoholic
• Pregnancy

VITAMIN B12 AND FOLATE/FOLIC ACID REFERENCE RANGE

• VITAMIN B12 >300 ng/L
• FOLIC ACID > 4 mcg/L