1. Start a Folic Acid Supplement Regimen
Anyone suffering from a folate deficiency, also known as folate deficiency anemia, should take a folic acid supplement to start a treatment plan. Doctors will commonly prescribe a supplement containing 1 milligram. of folic acid. This amount is higher than the recommended daily value of 400 micrograms, but that huge infusion of folic acid is used to jump-start your system and rapidly reduce the symptoms of folate deficiency anemia. Those who have a deficiency as a result of diet can typically stop taking a folic acid supplement in about seven days. Those who are taking the supplement as a result of a preexisting condition, on the other hand, may be dependent on them indefinitely.
2. Eat Foods High in Folates
Treating a folate deficiency is often as easy as eating the right foods. Chicken liver is one of the single best sources of folic acid, with about 770 micrograms of folic acid in every 3.5 ounces. of meat. Green vegetables like broccoli, asparagus and spinach also have high concentrations of folic acid. Breakfast cereals that have been fortified can also be beneficial, since some of them contain the full recommended daily value in each serving.
3. Get Regular Blood Tests
Blood tests can be used to determine the current levels of folic acid in the blood. When a doctor first suspects the presence of a folate deficiency because of symptoms such as tiredness and irritability, a blood test will typically be ordered to confirm or rule out the condition. In addition to testing for folate levels, doctors will also test vitamin B12 levels. Reduced vitamin B12 levels are known to produce many of the same symptoms as a folate deficiency. A week after the first test (and after the introduction of a folic acid supplement), your doctor will probably request a second blood test to examine your progress. These tests are then typically conducted every month to 90 days to see whether healthy folic acid levels are being maintained.
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