High Albumin and Folate.

Fit 22 year old athletic male, taking toprol for Hypertension and Cardizem for preventing a-fib. Went to neurologist because of numb sensation on left side, tingling on left foot, feels like lazy eye developing. My mind feels foggy and lightheaded alot. Had several rounds of blood work month after month . Had a negative EEG and MRI of brain. The latest is Albumin at 5.2 and Folate is 20 which is high. Does this tell me anything?? I work out regularly and like to take a little extra protein added to my diet. No steroids involved. No one knows whats wrong and why I have Hypertension to start with but I would love to get to the bottom of this. Help. thank you.

[Red_Star]

Causes of high folate:

Autoimmune pernicious anaemia (unable to absorb vitamin B12)
Vitamin B12 deficiency (from any other cause)
Intestinal blind loop syndrome
Increased folate consumption

Vitamin B12 deficiency symptoms include numbness, tingling, brain fog, and lightheadedness.  In some people, vitamin B12 can cause high blood pressure (however more commonly low blood pressure). What i found about a lazy eye and vitamin B12 deficiency "Reported clinical studies will reveal that, when adults develop amblyopia [lazy eye], they are usually treated with vitamins. The first treatment of choice in these cases is dispensing of vitamins, particularly vitamin B12 and folic acid." Interesting!

Vitamin B12 deficiency is easily misdiagnosed.  The lowest acceptable range now in Japan and Europe is 500 - 550pg/mL and that is still low in my opinion. In the US for instance, deficiency is stated to be 200 - 220pg/mL or below which is far too low.  Other tests that show up a B12 deficiency (even if B12 serum is normal) is elevated urinary methylmalonic acid (MMA), homocysteine and/or holotranscobalamin.

Other common causes of high blood pressure include a magnesium and/or vitamin D deficiency.  If your magnesium level is too low, your blood vessels will constrict rather than relax, which will raise your blood pressure.  
Magnesium deficiency is a known cause of A-fib and other heart rhythm problems. A high protein diet enlarged the need for magnesium. A high protein diet could even induce acute magnesium deficiency symptoms, because magnesium is involved in important amino acid transformations.

Vitamin D is also a negative inhibitor of your body’s renin-angiotensin sys­tem (RAS), which regulates blood pressure. If you're vitamin D deficient, it can cause inappropriate activation of your RAS, which may lead to hy­pertension.  Studies indicate that vitamin C and E can be helpful in lowering blood pressure as well.

High albumin (hyperalbuminemia) is almost always caused by dehydration.
In some cases of vitamin A deficiency the albumin level can be elevated.

[joelcoqui]

I wasnt aware of this. Where did you get this info? I love to see the source. this may be the answer I have been waiting for. I was Vit D deficient last year but I drink a quart of milk a day and Im always outside doing sports. Thank you.

[Red_Star]

Excessive calcium intake can lead to a magnesium deficiency.  And to note, magnesium is the most important co factor for vitamin D absorption. Vitamin D and magnesium are both needed for calcium absorption too.  I'll send you some websites with more info. :)

[Red_Star]

I forgot to mention that as you live in NY you won't receive any vitamin D from the sun from November through to March. Good article about it..i'll send it through in a minute. :)

[joelcoqui]

thank you so much.