Low vitamin B9 (folic acid) level in the blood

If you need to know which are the vitamin B9 reference ranges or you require more information about vitamin B9 in a blood test, you can visit normal vitamin B9 in a blood test.

Vitamin B9, also called folate or folic acid, is essential for the proper production of red blood cells (RBCs). A deficiency in vitamin B9 can lead to anemia, specifically megaloblastic anemia, a condition where RBCs become abnormally large.

The most common causes of low vitamin B9 (folic acid) levels in the blood are:

• Reduced dietary intake or increased utilization
  • Malnutrition
  • Pregnancy
• Malabsorption of vitamin B9
  • Disorders of the small bowel (Crohn's disease, tropical Sprue, etc.)
  • Gastric surgery (gastric bypass, gastrectomy)
  • Hypothyroidism
• Excessive alcohol consumption (alcoholism)
• Certain medications, including:
  • Oral contraceptives
  • Antibiotics (trimethoprim, etc.)
  • Anticonvulsants (phenytoin, etc.)
  • Folate antagonist (methotrexate)

Vitamin B9 blood values are usually given in ng/ml but sometimes you can see these values in nmol/l following the International System of Units (SI). In case your values are in nmol/l you can convert them using this tool:

The following diseases can explain a vitamin B9 (folic acid) blood level lower than normal:

To effectively increase vitamin B9 (folate) levels, it is important to identify the underlying cause of the deficiency.

• Nutritional deficiency: If the deficiency is due to poor dietary intake, you should increase your consumption of folate-rich foods such as green leafy vegetables (e.g., spinach, kale), fruits (e.g., oranges, bananas), legumes, and fortified grains. Your doctor may also recommend folic acid supplements to help raise your levels.
• Vitamin B12 deficiency: Sometimes, vitamin B9 deficiency may be related to a vitamin B12 deficiency. In this case, increasing your intake of vitamin B12-rich foods, such as meat, fish, eggs, and dairy products, or taking vitamin B12 supplements may be necessary.

The following values are considered to be above the normal range:

IMPORTANT: These levels are expressed in ng/ml. They are an example of a healthy adult of about 45 years old with no known disease and not taking any medication. The ranges can be different depending on the laboratory or on your personal circumstances.