Folic Acid Deficiency

In the past we were faced with a lot more folic acid deficiency than now. Several countries from around the world have included mandatory programs that fortify specific foods with different vitamins, including vitamin B9. On the other hand, people that drink too much alcohol still have increased risks of folic acid deficiency. The same goes in the case of malnutrition but this is a reality that is understood by anyone. Unfortunately folic acid deficiency can become really bad when combined with some situations. You should be aware that folic acid aids in dealing with cancer occurrence, reducing neural tube defects at birth and fights arteriosclerosis to a certain degree.

In most cases folic acid deficiency appears because of malnutrition. Most people end up with the condition because their diet lacks legumes, enriched grains or fresh vegetables. You should also be aware of the fact that food processing and long cooking will also lead to 50 to 90 percent loss in folate. Folic acid deficiency can also be caused by various other causes. We already mentioned alcoholism but you must also think about different malabsoprtion diseases like gastric diseases or celiac diseases. Different drugs will also inhibit the metabolism of folate while also impairing its absorption. A woman that is pregnant or during lactation can show lacks of folic acid because that is when the body of the mother requires extra supplementation of this vitamin.

The problem with folic acid deficiency is that it is really hard to diagnose. We are dealing with symptoms that are very general and can be associated with many possible conditions. In most cases the symptoms of folic acid deficiency are weakness, fatigue, palpitations, headaches, concentration problems, diarrhea and tongue redness. Most of these symptoms can be linked with other deficiencies. Sometimes the problem is a vitamin that is also a part of B vitamins.

The good news comes from the fact that folic acid deficiency can be discovered when the proper tests are performed. In most cases the doctor will use an RBC folate test. This is basically the most reliable method of finding out whether or not someone is suffering from folic acid deficiency. There are, of course, other methods available but this one has been proved to be the most accurate. All that the doctor will require is a sample of your blood, which can easily be taken out just like with any analysis. Alternatively, doctors might spot folic acid deficiency due to high levels of homocysteine. Unfortunately this is a symptom that is shared with deficiencies of vitamins B6 and B12. On the other hand it can be a good sign that you might be suffering from folic acid deficiency and further tests can be performed to confirm or deny the diagnosis.

Folic acid deficiency is not that common today. In the past it was because few people knew what they were dealing with and the symptoms are very hard to read. Nowadays cases of severe deficiencies are very rare because we are faced with supplements. Contrary to what you might have heard, in some situations you will need to take vitamin supplements. This is extremely true when you are a pregnant woman. Your baby does need increased doses of vitamin B9 in order to develop. There are literally dozens of studies that have proved this in the past. The good news is that a regular diet that is well balanced will include all the needed amounts of folic acid for most people. You must only supplement in the event that you are faced with folic acid deficiency and this is usually noticed thanks to the symptoms mentioned above.