Folic acid deficiency

Overview

Folic acid deficiency is caused either by malnutrition or a nutritional deficiency, or by insufficient absorption or increased requirements, such as during pregnancy. Causes include, for example, chronic inflammation. Symptoms include paleness, fatigue, headaches and a burning tongue. Such symptoms should be discussed with a doctor. Preventive measures include a diet high in folic acid and tablets.

Symptoms

General

• Most common vitamin deficiency in the Western world
• Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin (B9)
• Function of folic acid: involved in blood formation and cell renewal (cell division)

Symptoms

• Pale skin
• Fatigue and reduced performance
• Headaches, dizziness
• Cracks in the corners of the mouth, burning tongue
• Diarrhoea
• Hair loss
• Susceptibility to infections
• Breathing difficulties
• Lack of appetite, weight loss

Possible consequences of a deficiency

• Anaemia
• Pregnancy: neural tube defects of unborn babies (e.g. spina bifida)
  • Can lead to severe and lifelong disability

Causes and treatment

Causes

• Malnutrition or nutritional deficiency
  • Alcoholism
  • Anorexia, bulimia
  • Dieting without medical supervision
  • One-sided diet
  • Older people
• Insufficient absorption
  • Diseases of the small intestine, such as coeliac disease, Crohn’s disease, etc.
  • Long-term use of medication (oral contraceptives, anti-epileptic drugs, etc.)
  • Medication to treat cancer and autoimmune diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis)
• Increased requirement
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Periods of growth of children and youths
  • Cancer, blood disorders
  • Inflammation, infections: tuberculosis, malaria, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.
  • Tobacco consumption

Further treatment by your doctor / in hospital

Possible tests

• Blood test (levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 in the blood)
• Various diagnostic options (search for or exclusion of causes)

Possible therapies

• Treatment of the cause
• Administration of folic acid in tablet form
• Nutritional counselling

What can I do myself?

• Varied and healthy diet
• Good providers of folic acid
  • Wheat germs, oats, whole grains, nuts
  • Chinese cabbage, spinach, broccoli
  • Fennel, carrot, beans, asparagus
  • Legumes
  • Egg and dairy products
  • Meat (beef, calf’s liver)
• When hoping for a child
  • Discontinue all contraception
  • Recommended intake of folic acid tablets 0.4 mg / day as a preventive measure
• Stop smoking, use alcohol in moderation

When to see a doctor?

• Frequent: headaches, cracks in the corners of the mouth, diarrhoea, concentration difficulties
• Hoping for a child
• Frequent infections
• Burning tongue
• Chronic fatigue, drop in performance
• Desire to lose weight
• Anorexia, bulimia, alcoholism

Further information

Stiftung Folsäure Schweiz (Folic Acid Foundation Switzerland)
www.stiftung-folsäure.ch
Foods containing folic acid

Zurich Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy (Zentrum für Fetale Diagnostik und Therapie)
https://swissfetus.ch/home-en/

Synonyms

folic acid deficiency, vitamin B9 deficiency, pteroylglutamic acid deficiency, spina bifida, neural tube defect, folate deficiency