Side effects of folic acid deficiency. Folic acid and Vitamin B12 are group B vitamin complexes required for normal red blood cell production, tissue and cell repair, and DNA synthesis. Vitamin B12 and/or folic acid deficiency reflects chronic depletion of these vitamins. The body stores 3-5 years' worth of vitamin B12 and several months' worth of folic acid in the liver, so deficiency and accompanying symptoms can take months to years to develop in adults. However, in infants and children, deficiency symptoms can appear quickly, because the body does not yet have enough storage. Over time, a deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid leads to a Side effects of folic acid deficiency in the production of red blood cells, resulting in the production of larger-than-normal red blood cells, resulting in a disease characterized by reduced oxygen-carrying capacity. Anemia can make people feel weak, dizzy, and short of breath. A deficiency of vitamin B12 also causes neuropathy, which is nerve damage to varying degrees, which can lead to numbness and blunt paresthesia in the hands and feet, and mental changes ranging from confusion and irritability to severe dementia.
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| Side Effects Of Folic Acid Deficiency |
Over time, a deficiency of vitamin B12 and folic acid leads to a deficiency in the production of red blood cells, resulting in the production of larger-than-normal red blood cells, resulting in a disease characterized by reduced oxygen-carrying capacity. Anemia can make people feel weak, dizzy, and short of breath. A deficiency of vitamin B12 also causes neuropathy, which is nerve damage to varying degrees, which can lead to numbness and blunt paresthesia in the hands and feet, and mental changes ranging from confusion and irritability to severe dementia.
Pregnant women need a lot of folic acid for proper fetal development. If a woman has a folic acid deficiency before pregnancy, it becomes more severe during pregnancy, which can lead to premature birth and neural tube damage such as spina bifida.
Side Effects Of Folic Acid Deficiency-Symptom
Symptoms associated with vitamin B12 and folate deficiency are often minor and nonspecific. Symptoms are associated with consequences resulting from macroscopic anemia, nerve involvement, and gastrointestinal changes. People with early deficiency may be diagnosed before they experience obvious symptoms. Other affected patients may experience symptoms ranging from mild to severe, including:- Chaos
- Paranoia
- Diarrhea
- Whirl
- Tiredness, Weakness
- Anorexia
- Malabsorption
- Pallor
- Tachycardia
- Out Of Breath
- Tongue And Mouth Pain
- Numbness, Or Burning Sensation In The Hands, Feet, Arms, Or Legs (Due To Vitamin B12)
Side Effects Of Folic Acid Deficiency-Cause
Folate deficiency can result from insufficient intake, inadequate absorption, increased loss, or increased demand. Folic acid is found in green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, dried beans, yeast and fortified cereals. Vitamin B12 is abundant in animal proteins such as red meat, fish, poultry, milk, eggs and fortified cereals. Deficiencies due to insufficient intake of vitamin B12 are rare, but can be found in vegans (who eat no animal products) and infants who are breastfed.Vitamin B12 deficiency can occur when there is not enough stomach acid in the stomach to separate B12 from digested protein. This is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency in the elderly and people who take medications that suppress stomach acid production. Deficiency can also result from a lack of intrinsic factor, a substance secreted by parietal cells of the stomach, which binds to B12 and absorbs it in the intestine. An autoimmune disease called pernicious anemia damages parietal cells, reducing the production of endogenous factors.
Both vitamin B12 and folate deficiency can coexist with conditions that cause general malabsorption. For example, celiac disease (chronic dyspepsia) is wheat intolerance, causing inflammation and malabsorption, overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach and intestines, and surgery to remove parts of the stomach, parietal cells, and intestines.
Chronic conditions such as liver disease, kidney disease, and alcoholism can decrease vitamin B12 or folic acid, and medications such as phenytoin, metformin (diabetes drug), or methotrexate (arthritis drug) can also decrease vitamin B12 or folic acid.
All pregnant women need large amounts of folic acid for proper fetal development. If the deficiency existed before pregnancy, it becomes even worse during pregnancy.
Also See: Calcium Deficiency Disease Symptoms
Side Effects Of Folic Acid Deficiency-Test
Anemia and large red blood cells due to vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency are frequently detected on a routine complete blood count. Laboratory tests are used to detect a deficiency, determine its severity, determine the underlying cause of the deficiency, and monitor the effectiveness of treatment.Side Effects Of Folic Acid Deficiency-Lab Examination
The following tests are often ordered to diagnose and monitor B12 and folate deficiency.- Vitamin B12 . If the level is low, it indicates a deficiency, but the cause is unknown. Even if normal, folate deficiency may still exist. It may also be prescribed to monitor the effectiveness of treatment.
- Complete blood count. A collection of tests commonly ordered to screen for blood cell abnormalities. This test measures the type, amount, and characteristics of cells. Anemia with both vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency is characterized by low hemoglobin, low red blood cell count, and abnormally large numbers (macrocytic or megaloblastic). White blood cells and platelets may also decrease.
- Folate : Folic acid in serum or red blood cells can both be evaluated. Some consider folic acid in red blood cells to be more clinically relevant. If either one is low, it means deficiency. Even if normal, vitamin B12 deficiency may still exist. It may also be prescribed to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and help full to determine side effects of folic acid deficiency.
Other tests sometimes used to diagnose vitamin B12 and folate deficiency include:
- Methylmalonic acid. It is sometimes prescribed to look for mild or early vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Homocysteine. It is sometimes prescribed and may be elevated when both vitamin B12 and folic acid are deficient.
Tests ordered to find the cause of vitamin B12 deficiency:
- Schilling's test: Once often prescribed to confirm the diagnosis of pernicious anemia, it is no longer commonly used.
- Intrinsic factor binding antibody: Binding to intrinsic factor and interfering with the binding of intrinsic factor to vitamin B12. May be present in patients with pernicious anemia. This test is a specialized test and is not used often.
- Intrinsic factor blocking antibody: A protein that prevents vitamin B12 from binding to intrinsic factor. It is present in more than 50% of patients with pernicious anemia.
- Parietal cell antibody: Antibody against parietal cells that produce intrinsic factor. Although present in a large proportion in patients with pernicious anemia, it can also be observed in other diseases.
Also See: What Is the Importance Of Folic Acid
Side Effects Of Folic Acid Deficiency-Cure
Treatment of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency often requires long-term or lifelong supplementation. People with intrinsic factor deficiency or general malabsorption may require injections of vitamin B12. Folic acid is taken by mouth. Doctors recommend that all women contemplating pregnancy take hydrochloric acid supplementation before and during pregnancy to ensure sufficient folic acid stores are needed for normal fetal development.If the patient is deficient in both vitamin B12 and folic acid, both should be supplemented. Macrocytic anemia may be resolved if a patient with vitamin B12 deficiency is supplemented with folic acid alone, but the underlying neuropathy (nerve damage) caused by vitamin B12 deficiency will persist. Appropriate treatment relieves side effects of folic acid deficiency symptoms, but damaged nerves may not recover as they did before.
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