Folate
Vitamin B9, needed for red blood cells and DNA. Works closely with B12; important before and during pregnancy.
Typical reference range
| Range | Unit |
|---|---|
| 7– | nmol/l |
What Folate measures
Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is a nutrient the body needs to build DNA and make new red blood cells. It is especially important for healthy fetal development, which is why it draws particular attention around pregnancy. Folate is measured in two main ways: serum folate, which reflects recent dietary intake and can shift with what you have eaten lately, and red-cell folate, which reflects your longer-term stores. Folate is usually considered alongside vitamin B12, because the two vitamins are closely linked in how the body uses them and a problem with one can affect the other. For this reason a clinician often reviews folate and B12 together rather than reading either in isolation.
What a high Folate can mean
A high folate result is usually harmless. It most commonly reflects supplements or a diet rich in fortified foods, and on its own it is generally not a cause for concern.
The important caution is what a high folate level can hide. A high folate can mask the blood signs of an underlying vitamin B12 deficiency. Normally a lack of B12 or folate can produce a macrocytic anemia (large red blood cells), and plentiful folate can keep those blood changes from showing up. Meanwhile, if the real problem is low B12, the nerve damage that untreated B12 deficiency can cause may continue to progress unnoticed. This is exactly why vitamin B12 should be checked alongside folate. If your folate is high, it is worth discussing the result and your B12 status with a clinician, who can decide what, if anything, needs following up.
What a low Folate can mean
A low folate result can have several explanations. It may suggest low dietary intake, malabsorption in the gut (for example with coeliac disease), increased demand such as during pregnancy, heavy alcohol use, or the effect of certain medications.
Because folate is needed to make healthy red blood cells, a shortfall can lead to macrocytic anemia, in which the cells are larger than normal. In pregnancy, low folate is linked to neural tube defects in the developing baby, which is why folate supplementation is widely advised around conception and early pregnancy.
Testing and treatment belong with a clinician, who can look for the underlying cause and advise on next steps. Because folate and vitamin B12 are closely linked, B12 should generally be assessed too rather than folate alone.
Track your Folate over time in Quanome — it reads your lab reports (PDF or photo) on your device, charts each marker against its range, and an AI coach explains what your trends mean alongside your Apple Health and DNA.