Patient Information Resource:
Benign Hematologic (Blood) DisordersA collaborative project of the Arizona Telemedicine Program, the Arizona Health Sciences Library and the Arizona Cancer Center.
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Folic Acid Deficiency
Folic acid is essential for the production of blood cells in the bone marrow. Therefore, folic acid deficiency is a common cause of anemia, red blood cell (RBC) deficiency (see Anemia). Because the RBCs are responsible for delivering oxygen to the tissues, anemia can cause serious oxygen deprivation. Folic acid deficiency may also cause thrombocytopenia and neutropenia, leading to increased bleeding, bruising and risk of infection.
Folic acid deficiency may be caused by a dietary insufficiency or by an inability to absorb folic acid. Most often, it is caused by diet alone or diet along with alcohol use. It is most common in infants, pregnant and nursing women, alcoholics, and elderly people. Factors that may cause folic acid insufficiency are cancer, intestinal disease (jejunitis, small bowel resection), overcooking of foods, and drugs such as anticonvulsants such as Dilantin and Phenytoin, antibacterials such as the trimethoprim component of Bactrim, and estrogens such as Progestin).
Folic acid deficiency has many symptoms, most of them related to anemia. These include dizziness, irritability, pain, pallor, headache, oral ulcers, and elevated heart rate. It can be diagnosed by patient history, physical examination for symptoms, and laboratory testing. Treatment for folic acid deficiency is usually folic acid supplements. In addition, foods high in folic acid, such as beef liver, peanut butter, red beans, oatmeal, asparagus, and broccoli, are recommended.
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Updated: October 30, 2000