Assessment of Folate and Vitamin B12 Nutritional Status

A number of methods have been developed to permit assessment of folate and vitamin B12 nutritional status and to differentiate between deficiency of the vitamins as a cause of megaloblastic anemia. Obviously, detection of antibodies to intrinsic factor or gastric parietal cells will confirm autoimmune pernicious anemia rather than nutritional deficiency of either vitamin. 

In addition to the methods described here, measurement of urinary ac-etamido p-aminohenzoyl glutamate will reflectfolate turnover (Section 10.2.3) and incorporation of uracil, instead of thymidine into the DNA in leukocytes or lymphocytes may provide a sensitive index of folate status. 

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