← Blood tests
Folate, RBC
Advanced wellnessalso red blood cell folate
What it isFolate stored inside red blood cells. Because red cells live about 120 days, RBC folate reflects average folate status over the preceding several months.
DoesCaptures long-term folate status rather than the swings serum folate shows.
GoodHigh RBC folate confirms sustained adequate intake.
BadLow RBC folate signals chronic deficiency, even when serum folate looks acceptable.
- Standard
- >280 ng/mL.
- Optimal
- 600–1000 ng/mL (higher is good)
- Modifiers
- Same as serum folate but with a long lag.
How to optimize
- Lifestyle
- Cut alcohol.
- Diet
- Leafy greens, legumes, asparagus, beets, citrus.
- Supplements
- Methylfolate (400–800µg/day).
- Peptides
- —
- Drugs
- —
Reference ranges are general adult lab norms; optimal ranges are editorial picks from the longevity literature — not medical advice. Always interpret results with your physician.
within Vitamins