FOLATE (FOLIC ACID),SERUM

FOLATE (FOLIC ACID),SERUM

Folate, Serum test measures the amount of folic acid in the blood. Folic acid is found in many foods and is one of the B vitamins. 

Folate is one of the B-vitamins and is needed to make red and white blood cells in the bone marrow, convert carbohydrates into energy, and produce DNA and RNA.

Adequate folate intake is extremely important during periods of rapid growth such as pregnancy, infancy, and adolescence.Folic acid deficiency is common in pregnant women, alcoholics, in patients whose diets do not include raw fruits and vegetables, and in people with structural damage to the small intestine.

A deficiency in either B12 or folate can lead to macrocytic anemia, where red blood cells are larger than normal. Megaloblastic anemia, a type of macrocytic anemia, is characterized by the production of fewer but larger RBCs called macrocytes, in addition to some cellular changes in the bone marrow. Other laboratory findings associated with megaloblastic anemia include decreased WBC count, RBC count, reticulocyte count, and platelet count.

Folate is necessary for cell division such as is seen in a developing fetus. Folate deficiency during early pregnancy can increase the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida in a growing fetus.