Folatbrist symtom
Folate, also known as vitamin B9, is naturally found in certain foods. Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate that's added to some foods to fortify them, such as breads and cereals. Folate deficiency occurs when you have very low amounts of vitamin B9 in your body.
People with folate deficiency can experience symptoms like fatigue, irritability, diarrhea, and a rapid heart rate, as well as complications like anemia low red blood cells and ulcers. Pregnant people with folate deficiency may increase the risk of certain birth defects. Symptoms of folate deficiency may include:.
What Is Folate Deficiency?
Folate is found in many different foods, such as beef liver, dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli and spinach , eggs, beans, peas, and certain fruits such as bananas and avocado. Other foods—especially grains like bread, rice, cereal, and pasta—are fortified with folic acid. This can happen for many different reasons. Certain digestive disorders, excessive alcohol use , dietary changes, and the side effects of medications like Dilantin phenytoin and Azulfidine sulfasalazine can all inhibit your intake or absorption of nutrients.
Pregnant people need more folic acid than usual, so they are more likely to develop a folate deficiency. Several factors may increase your likelihood of developing folate deficiency, including:. Folate deficiency is diagnosed with a simple serum blood test. Your healthcare provider may order a blood test for folate deficiency if you present with related symptoms. During pregnancy, you may be given a folate deficiency test during a routine prenatal appointment.
The main treatment for folate deficiency is supplementation with folic acid. You may take them orally or receive injections if necessary. If your symptoms are severe, you may need to receive supplemental folic acid intravenously through an IV. The best way to prevent folate deficiency is to consume enough folate in your diet or through dietary supplements that contain folic acid.
Foods like beef liver, spinach, mustard greens, asparagus, brussels sprouts, oranges, black-eyed peas, and kidney beans are especially rich in folate. You can find folate in many different multivitamins in the form of folic acid. If you are pregnant, your healthcare provider will most likely recommend a prenatal vitamin that contains folic acid. The recommended daily amount of folate changes based on your age and whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
The amounts you should consume each day, listed in micrograms mcg of dietary folate equivalents DFEs , are as follows:. If left untreated, folate deficiency can lead to several health complications.
Folate deficiency
These include:. When a pregnant person experiences folate deficiency anemia, they have a higher risk of fetal birth defects and birth complications, including:. Folate, or vitamin B9, is also called folic acid. This can lead to folate deficiency anemia, which causes symptoms like fatigue, irritability, a swollen tongue, a rapid heartbeat, and more.
What to know about folate deficiency
If you think you may have a folate deficiency, talk to your healthcare provider about taking supplements that contain folic acid. One study found that red blood cell counts among people with folate deficiency anemia increased significantly after four weeks of folic acid supplementation. Full recovery may take three to six months. However, your results may vary widely, depending on the underlying reason for your folate deficiency, the severity of your anemia, and the dosage of your supplement.
Fruits and vegetables—such as avocado, lettuce, spinach, mustard greens, broccoli, asparagus, peas, and oranges—are especially high in folate. Nuts, beans, dairy products, and eggs are also good sources, as well as certain meats such as beef liver and poultry. You can also eat foods that have been enriched with folic acid, including certain breakfast cereals, pastas, breads, and rice.
There are many different types of B vitamins.