Fatigue is one symptom of a folic acid deficiency. However, folic acid supplements are not typically used to treat fatigue due to other causes. It is part of the B complex, and the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements recommends that men and women -- including those who are pregnant and lactating mothers -- get 1,000 mcg per day. Consult with your doctor before adding folic acid supplements to your daily regimen.
Folic Acid
Folic acid is also called folate, folacin and vitamin B-9. You can find it in liver, green vegetables, grains and many varieties of beans. Folic acid plays an important role in building and maintaining the integrity of DNA as well as making new red blood cells. Low levels of folic acid in pregnant women are linked to birth defects of the brain and spine as well as higher rates of colorectal cancer. A folate-deficiency can cause folate-deficiency anemia, which presents as fatigue.
Folate-deficiency Anemia
Symptoms of folate-deficiency anemia include fatigue, headache, pale skin and a sore tongue. Due to a lack of folic acid, a person with this health condition produces abnormally large red blood cells called megalocytes. The various causes of folate-deficiency anemia include chronic alcoholism, digestive disorders like Crohn's disease, medications and simply not getting enough in your daily diet. About four out of 100,000 people develop folate-deficiency anemia, according to National Institutes of Health online medical encyclopedia Medline Plus. Pregnant women and people who do not eat fresh fruits and vegetables are at a higher risk of developing this type of anemia.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Folic acid supplementation is purported to help chronic fatigue syndrome. A study by the University of California Irvine Medical Center and reported in the November 1989 issue of the "Archives of Internal Medicine" found participants responded positively to folic acid injections, but there was no significant difference compared to the placebo group. Patients with CFS experience overwhelming fatigue. Bed rest does not improve chronic fatigue syndrome and physical and mental activity makes it worse. People with CFS experience a variety of symptoms including insomnia, muscle pain, weakness and fatigue.
Considerations
Allergic reactions to folic acid are rare, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Common side effects include altered sleep patterns and gastrointestinal disturbances. Birth control pills can reduce the levels of folic acid in your body. Folic acid supplements can mask the symptoms of a vitamin B-12 deficiency. Taking folic acid supplements can have a negative reaction with some anti-convulsant medications.
References
- American Cancer Society; Folic Acid; July 2011
- Medline Plus; Folate-Deficiency Anemia; January 2010
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Folate; May 2011
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) -- General Information; October 2010
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Liver Extract-Folic Acid-Cyanocobalamin vs. Placebo for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome; J.E. Kaslow, et al.; November 1989
- Office of Dietary Supplements: Folate
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