Medical expert of the article
New publications
Folic acid in the blood
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Reference values (norm) of folic acid concentration in adults: in blood serum - 7-45 nmol / l (3-20 ng / ml); in erythrocytes - 376-1450 nmol / l (166-640 ng / ml).
Folic acid refers to the water-soluble vitamins of group B and is a derivative of pteridine. The human body is provided with folic acid due to its endogenous synthesis of the intestinal microflora and consumption with food. In food, folic acid is present in the form of folic polyglutamate and other folate salts (folates). Vitamin is absorbed after hydrolysis, reduction and methylation in the digestive tract. The average daily intake of folic acid is usually 500-700 micrograms of folate per day. Of this amount, 50-200 μg of folate is usually absorbed into the digestive tract, depending on the metabolic requirement (in pregnant women up to 300-400 μg). In the body, folic acid is reduced to tetrahydrofolic acid (this requires the presence of vitamin B 12 ), which is a coenzyme involved in various metabolic processes. Usually 5-20 mg (up to 75%) of folate accumulates in the liver and other tissues. Folates are excreted from the body with urine and feces, and are also metabolized, so their concentration in serum is reduced within a few days after discontinuation of ingestion with food.
The main sources of folate for man - yeast, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, mushrooms, lettuce, spinach, onions, liver, kidneys, egg yolk, cheese. The daily requirement of an adult in folic acid is 0.2 mg. It increases during pregnancy, during lactation, with heavy physical labor, lack of protein in the diet, taking large doses of vitamin C (2 g or more).
The presence in the molecules of the active metabolite of folic acid - tetrahydrofolate - mobile hydrogen atoms causes its participation as a donor in a number of oxidation-reduction reactions. He takes part in the synthesis of purines, pyrimidines, methionine, the interconversions of serine and glycine, thereby regulating the exchange of proteins. Folates are necessary to maintain normal erythropoiesis, nucleoprotein synthesis, cell multiplication, blood clotting, prevention of atherosclerosis.
[