Vitamin B12, Folic Acid

About the vitamin tests

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 testing measures the level of vitamin B12 in your blood. Having a vitamin B12 deficiency, or a low level of this essential vitamin, can cause many health issues, including anemia and nervous system problems.

Vitamin B12 levels may be low for several reasons, including inadequate dietary intake, certain medications, advanced age, or conditions that make it harder for the body to absorb vitamin B12 from your food.

Folic Acid

Folate, also known as folic acid or vitamin B9, maintain several vital roles in the body, including forming DNA. An insufficient level of folate in the body, called folate deficiency, can lead to anemia and other changes to your health. Anemia may cause symptoms like weakness, shortness of breath, and mental changes.

A folate test may be ordered after an abnormal blood test result or if your health care provider suspects low folate levels are creating health problems. Testing for folate requires a sample of blood.

Purpose of the Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid tests 

To help your provider confirm suspicion about lack of vitamins and ensure that treatment is effective. Low-level B12 vitamin can be assumed by fatigue, heart palpitations, pale skin, dementia, weight loss, and infertility. Although, vitamin B12 deficiency, as a low folate level, can be suspected by detecting megaloblastic anemia in general blood analysis.

You need to determine the level of folic acid in the following symptoms:

• Fatigue

• Heart palpitations

• Pale skin

• Dementia

• Weight loss

• Infertility