Folate, often known as folic acid, is a B vitamin. It is beneficial to:
- Create DNA
- Repair DNA
- Create red blood cells (RBCs)
If you do not consume enough folate, you may develop a folate deficit. Certain beverages and meals, such as citrus juices and dark green vegetables, are especially high in folate.
In just a few weeks, a lack of folate can lead to a shortage. A deficiency can also arise if you have an illness or a genetic mutation that prevents your body from absorbing or converting folate to a useful form.
Anemia can be caused by a lack of folate. Anemia is a condition in which there are insufficient RBCs. Because RBCs carry oxygen, anemia can deprive your tissues of the oxygen they require. This may have an impact on their ability to operate.
Folate is particularly significant in women of reproductive age. A lack of folate during pregnancy might result in birth defects.
The majority of people obtain adequate folate from their diet. To avoid deficiency, many foods now include extra folate in the form of folic acid, a synthetic variant of folate. Nonetheless, supplements are advised for women who are planning to get pregnant.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FOLATE DEFICIENCY?
Folate insufficiency symptoms are frequently modest. They are as follows:
- Fatigue
- Gray hair
- Mouth ulcers
- Tongue swelling
- Growth issues
- Peripheral neuropathy (the result of damage to one or more groups of nerves)
Anemia caused by a lack of folate includes the following symptoms:
- Chronic exhaustion
- Skin that is pale
- Breathing difficulty
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Irritability
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF FOLATE DEFICIENCY?
Folate is a nutrient that is water soluble. It disintegrates in water and is not kept in fat cells. This implies that you must continue to take folate since your body cannot establish a reserve.
People excrete an overabundance of water-soluble vitamins in their urine.
The following are some of the causes of folate deficiency:
Diet
The major cause of folate insufficiency is a diet deficient in fresh fruits, vegetables, and fortified grains. Furthermore, overcooking meals can occasionally damage the vitamins. If you don't eat enough folate-rich foods, your body's folate levels might plummet in a matter of weeks.
Disease
Folate deficits can be caused by conditions that interfere with absorption in the gastrointestinal system. They are as follows:
- Crohn’s disease
- Celiac disease
- Specific cancers
- Severe kidney disease necessitating dialysis
Genetics
Some people have a genetic abnormality that prevents their bodies from converting dietary or supplementary folate to its useable form, methylfolate.
Side effects of medication
Certain drugs might produce a lack of folate. Among them are:
- Phenytoin (Dilantin)
- Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
- Methotrexate
- Sulfasalazine
Excessive alcohol consumption
Alcohol inhibits folate absorption. It also enhances folate excretion via urine.
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS FOR FOLATE DEFICIENCY?
The following factors may increase the probability of having a folate deficiency:
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Pregnancy
- Old persons in institutions
- A genetic variation in the MTHFR gene
- Malabsorption syndromes, including inflammatory bowel disease and celiac disease
- Certain drugs
- Being of reproductive age
- Consuming overdone meals
- Consuming a vitamin-deficient diet
- Sickle cell disease and other medical problems
- Poor socioeconomic status
What are the risks of folic acid deficiency during pregnancy?
Folic acid is particularly crucial during pregnancy. Folic acid can help newborns avoid certain birth problems known as neural tube defects. Because they impact the spinal cord or brain, neural tube abnormalities are dangerous. They are as follows:
- Spina bifida: When a baby's spinal cord or brain do not fully develop in the pregnancy, this syndrome arises. Spina bifida babies may require surgery and may suffer paralysis and other physical impairments.
- Anencephaly: This is a disorder in which a baby's brain and skull do not fully develop in the pregnancy. Anencephaly newborns are usually stillborn or die shortly after delivery.
WHAT ARE THE COMPLICATIONS OF FOLATE DEFICIENCY?
Folate is necessary for appropriate RBC formation. Deficiency complications may include:
- Megaloblastic anemia is characterized by RBCs that are bigger than normal and have not fully matured.
- Now white blood cell and platelet
- Neural tube defects are major birth anomalies in a growing fetus's spinal cord and brain.
- Peripheral neuropathy
HOW IS FOLATE DEFICIENCY DIAGNOSED?
A blood test is used to identify folate insufficiency. During prenatal appointments, doctors will frequently test pregnant women's folate levels.
There are other at-home testing kits available.
WHAT ARE THE TREATMENTS FOR FOCAL DEFICIENCY?
Treatment include boosting folate intake with food. You can also take folic acid or folate supplements.
Those who have the MTHFR genetic mutation, which inhibits folate absorption, must take methylation folate to avoid insufficiency.
In supplements, folate is usually mixed with other B vitamins. These are also known as B complex vitamins.
Pregnant women should avoid alcohol totally, and anybody with a folate shortage should limit their alcohol use.
HOW CAN FOLATE DEFICIENCY BE PREVENTED?
Consume a well-balanced diet to avoid folate insufficiency. Foods with high levels of folate include:
- Green leafy vegetables like broccoli and spinach
- Brussels sprouts
- Peas
- Citrus
- Fruits like bananas and melons
- Tomato juice
- Eggs
- Beans
- Legumes
- Kidney
- Liver meat
- Poultry
- Pork
- Mushrooms
- Asparagus
- Shellfish
- Wheat bran
- Fortified cereals
The daily recommended intake of folate is 400 micrograms. People who are planning on becoming pregnant should take a folate supplement. Folate is essential for appropriate fetal development.
If you have MTHFR, you should avoid folic acid-fortified foods. Certain forms of this genetic mutation prohibit folic acid from being converted to methylfolate.
People who use drugs that are known to induce folate deficiency should also take a supplement, but they should see a doctor first.