Folic Acid Deficiency

Folic Acid Deficiency – General Information

Folic Acid Deficiency is a disease which affects a large number of people, even though during the past 10 years most of the countries introduced some fortification programs, which offer supplements of folic acid. However, this disease is quite common in the case of those who are drug or alcohol addicts or those who suffer of malnutrition. If Folic Acid Deficiency is associated with other disorders it can result in serious problems. For example, in association with homocysteine it can increase the risk of arteriosclerosis and if it is not diagnosed in due time and treated carefully it can lead to cancer. The folic acid contains a pterin ring and a number of glutamate residues. It is usually found in citrus fruits, green vegetables and in most of the animal products. It can not be generated by the human organism. In what concerns the folates, they can also be found in natural foods, but they are also present in the tissues of the human body. A normal person has about 1,000 – 22,000 mcg or folates in the natural body stores. A decreased quantity of folates or folic acid can result, in most of the cases, in a severe anemia. The frequency of Folic Acid Deficiency is quite high, especially in those countries where the authorities do not choose to introduce fortification programs or, at least, some educational programs to inform people about the risks and consequences of this disease. The reports show no difference in what concerns the number of men and women who suffer from this disease. 

Folic Acid Deficiency – Symptoms

The most common sign which appears in the case of Folic Acid Deficiency is anemia, which can vary in intensity and severity from a sufferer to another. In most of the cases, the anemia develops over a long period of time, about 6-7 months, and at first the patient does not notice any problems or changes in his general health condition. However, the first signs which appear consist of fatigue, irritability, weakness, difficulty concentrating, palpitations, shortness of breath or headaches. In the case of those who also suffer from cancer, some more complicated problems can develop: angina pectoris, tachycardia, lactic acidosis, postural hypertension, thrombocytopenia or neutropenia. Other problems which have been reported are: pain when swallowing, sore tongue, angular stomatitis, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting. These signs usually appear in the case of the patients who use alcohol, drugs or those with a poor diet. However, such symptoms can also be the result of more severe underlying problems, such as mal-absorption. In the case of more sensitive patients who suffer from Folic Acid Deficiency darkening of the mucous membranes or the skin can appear as well. This problem usually affects the toes, palms, fingers or soles. The distribution, in most of the cases, is irregular and the problems can be reduced with a proper treatment. Another unusual problem which was reported in the case of those who suffer from this disease is a reduced body temperature. If you notice any of the signs and symptoms presented above, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Folic Acid Deficiency – Treatment

There are a large number of problems which can lead to Folic Acid Deficiency; the most common one are an impaired absorption, an increased excretion, an inadequate ingestion, an impaired metabolism or an increased destruction. In these conditions, more important than the treatment itself is the fact that the sufferers should be aware of the problems which lead to Folic Acid Deficiency in order to be able to reduce them. In what concerns the inadequate ingestion, the studies show that a poor nutrition is usually common in the case of those who are alcohol addicts or in the case of old people (as a result of social isolation, physical disabilities or ill-lifting dentures). An inadequate ingestion can also develop in the case of those who use to prolong the exposure of the food to high temperatures, as the folates are destroyed by heat. Moreover, the disease evolves more quickly in the case of patients who also suffer of liver failure, anorexia or those who refuse foods reach in potassium, phosphates or proteins.

In what concerns an impaired absorption, this usually is the result of an improper transport of the folates in the organism, due to a vascular insufficiency or a small bowel resection. An impaired metabolism is the result of a person’s incapacity to utilize the folates and the folic acid which were already absorbed. This inability can be the result of some folate antagonist substances, such as trimethoprim or methotrexate. An increased requirement of folic acid appears during certain periods, such as infancy, lactation, pregnancy, during an infection or a malignancy. On the other hand, an increased excretion can be the result of a deficiency of vitamin B-12 or of an undergoing hemodialysis. In order to obtain a sure diagnosis, your doctor will probably recommend you some tests; the results of these tests will give him information about the levels of folic acid in the body and about any other underlying problems, such as an intravascular depletion, a renal failure or a deficiency of some vitamins. If the tests show that you suffer from Folic Acid Deficiency, your doctor will probably recommend you to consult a dietitian.

The most common way to treat Folic Acid Deficiency is to follow a diet reach in folates and folic acid; this is the reason why your dietitian will probably suggest you a diet reach in vegetables and fruits. The next step in treating this disease consists of treating any underlying problems which have led to the appearance of the disorder. There are however some complications which can appear during the treatment of Folic Acid Deficiency: megaloblastic anemia, glossitis, diarrhea, leucopenia, angular stomatitis, fever, thrombocytopenia, homocysteine or hyper-pigmentation of the skin. In order to reduce the frequency of this disorder, there should be some educational programs to inform people about the need of folic acid and the problems which can lead to the appearance of this disease; they should also be informed about the danger of excessive alcohol ingestion and the need of the organism for fruits and vegetables.