Folic acid, a water-soluble B vitamin, works with vitamin B-12 to help create healthy red blood cells and DNA. Folic acid also helps your body break down and use proteins. Because folic acid is water-soluble, your body cannot store excess amounts. A folic acid deficiency is characterized by an inadequate amount of folic acid in your blood. To maintain normal amounts of folic acid in the blood, you must consume adequate amounts of the vitamin every day.
Causes
A poor diet is a common cause of folic acid deficiency. According to Medline Plus, this cause is most common in elderly adults, poor populations and people who do not eat adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables. Folic acid deficiency may also develop as a result of certain medications, celiac disease and alcoholism. Hemolytic anemia, a disease characterized by a lack of red blood cells, can also result in folic acid deficiency.
Symptoms
Some of the most common symptoms of a folic acid deficiency include diarrhea, gray hair, mouth ulcers, peptic ulcers, stunted growth and swollen tongue. A severe folic acid deficiency can lead to a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia, which is characterized by larger-than-normal red blood cells. Megaloblastic anemia can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, irritability and weakness.
Considerations
A folic acid deficiency is especially harmful during pregnancy. If a woman does not consume enough folic acid during pregnancy, it increases the risk that the fetus will develop birth defects called neural tube defects. The most common include spina bifida, which is characterized by an exposed spinal cord, and anencephaly, which is a severe underdevelopment of the brain. Neural tube defects develop within the first 28 days, which is the period of time before a woman usually knows she is pregnant, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because of this, a diet high in folic acid is especially important for women of childbearing age.
Prevention
Consuming adequate amounts of folic acid every day can help prevent the development of a folic acid deficiency. Folic acid needs differ based on age. Children between 1 and 3 need 150 mcg per day and children between 4 and 8 need 200 mcg daily. Children between 9 and 13 require 200 mcg per day. Teenagers and adults aged 14 and older should consume 400 mcg per day. Pregnant and lactating women have slightly increased needs at 600 mcg and 500 mcg, respectively.
Naturally occurring sources of folic acid include beans, legumes, citrus fruits, citrus juices, leafy green vegetables, poultry, shellfish, whole grains and organ meats, such as liver. Some foods, such as fortified cereals, enriched pastas and breads and rice contain synthetic forms of folic acid, which can also help you meet your needs.
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