Diet

Folic acid deficiency - you should know that

What is Folic Acid Deficiency?

Folic acid is an important vitamin for the body that is absorbed through food.
It is essential for many processes in the body. Among other things, it is important for cell division. In the case of a deficiency, there are symptoms, especially in cells that divide frequently.
This includes e.g. the red blood cells. Therefore, folic acid deficiency can lead to anemia (anemia), among other things. Folic acid deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency in the western world.

More information about the vitamin can be found at: Folic acid

Causes of a Folic Acid Deficiency

Folic acid deficiency can be due to the following causes:

One cause of a folic acid deficiency can be malnutrition.
Chronic alcoholics are particularly hard hit. Furthermore, even with a one-sided diet, as is common in older people, there may be insufficient intake of folic acid.
In certain cases, the need for folic acid is also increased. This is the case for the child's development during pregnancy.
Read more on this topic at: Folic Acid During Pregnancy
If red blood cells break down prematurely (hemolysis) due to illness, the body needs more folic acid.
In diseases that are associated with poor food intake through the intestine, folic acid deficiency can occur. These include diseases that are associated with weight loss, such as Tumor diseases. An overactive thyroid can also lead to a folic acid deficiency.
Medicines can also cause folic acid deficiency. This includes folic acid opponents, which block the activation step of folic acid in the body. So the problem here is not lack of uptake. One drug in this group is methotrexate, which is used in tumor and autoimmune diseases.

You can recognize a folic acid deficiency by these symptoms

The folic acid deficiency leads to anemia, which leads to fatigue. Causes tiredness and decreased performance. Furthermore, there is paleness, which can be seen well on the mucous membranes. In some cases, exertion can cause shortness of breath. The symptoms cannot tell that the anemia results from a folic acid deficiency. The exact clarification must be carried out by a doctor.

For more information we also recommend you: Symptoms of anemia

Changes in the skin

In general, the skin becomes pale. This is particularly evident on the mucous membrane. In addition, the skin appears drier and cracked. The nails can be brittle. However, these symptoms are more typical of anemia due to an existing iron deficiency.

You might also be interested in:

Cracked skin - that's what's behind it!
Cracked nails - treatment options

Changes in the hair

With a folic acid deficiency, the hair can appear dull and dull. They mostly lose their shine and often lie limp. A good cell structure is important for a healthy hair structure. This is impaired with a folic acid deficiency.
Furthermore, hair loss can occur. This is why many hair loss agents contain folic acid. However, there are a number of other reasons for not having healthy and strong hair and hair loss.

Read more on this topic at: Brittle hair - what's behind it?

Anemia due to folic acid deficiency

Folic acid deficiency anemia usually requires treatment.It manifests itself by paleness, reduced resilience and tiredness. When investigating the causes of anemia, a folic acid deficiency is often diagnosed.

Due to the insufficient amount of folic acid in the body, not enough blood cells can be produced. However, since the body can still produce sufficient hemoglobin (dye of the red blood cells), the red blood cells are packed with more hemoglobin than normal. As a result, they are larger and have a higher hemoglobin content. This type of anemia is also known as megaloblastic anemia. This can also arise due to a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Read more on this topic at: Anemia due to folic acid deficiency or Megaloblastic anemia

Parasitic sensations and unsteady gait

Neurological symptoms are not typical of a folic acid deficiency, but cannot be ruled out.
In addition to a folic acid deficiency, alcoholics in particular also suffer from a vitamin B12 deficiency, which leads to very similar consequences and significantly more often to neurological symptoms.
Neurological symptoms that can occur are unsteady gait, paralysis and abnormal sensations such as tingling sensations. But psychological changes are also possible.
By consuming folic acid and possibly also vitamin B12, the symptoms can usually be significantly improved. However, they cannot be reversed in every case.

Neurological symptoms occur more frequently as a result of a vitamin B12 deficiency than with a folic acid deficiency. So be sure to read our page: Vitamin B12 deficiency - these are the consequences!

Can a folic acid deficiency cause weight gain?

Weight gain is not a characteristic symptom of folic acid deficiency. Under certain circumstances, the lack of nutrients can lead to weight loss.

Can a folic acid deficiency cause increased sweating?

Sweating is not one of the typical symptoms that result from a folic acid deficiency. However, sweating and sensitivity to heat often occur with an overactive thyroid. This in turn can lead to a folic acid deficiency.

Increased sweating can be due to an overactive thyroid, read more about this at: Symptoms of an overactive thyroid
For general information on this topic, we recommend our page on: Excessive Sweating - What's Behind It?

Is the depression related to folic acid deficiency?

Various studies have shown that there is a connection between folic acid and depression. Folic acid is important for the formation of messenger substances. These are important for communication between nerve cells.
In the case of depression, the neurotransmitters in the brain lose their balance. It has been found that patients with depression have lower folic acid levels. In addition to depression, it can also lead to increased irritability and the appearance of anxiety.

Read more on this topic at: What role do vitamins play in depression?

Treatment of a folic acid deficiency

In the therapy of a folic acid deficiency, the additional intake of folic acid is crucial to compensate for the deficiency. This is done in the form of tablets.
At the same time, it is important to treat the cause of the folic acid deficiency.

For alcoholics, abstaining from alcohol is important to prevent recurrence. In addition, many other complaints arise from chronic alcohol abuse, which can be improved by completely avoiding alcohol.
Read more about this at: These are the consequences of drinking alcohol
In the event of malnutrition, a change in diet must take place.
A varied, balanced diet can be crucial in treating folic acid deficiency. We recommend our website to guide you through a good diet: Healthy eating
During pregnancy, in which there is an increased need for folic acid, folic acid must be taken until the end and preferably also during breastfeeding. Further treatment is not necessary.
For more information on this topic, we recommend our page on: Folic Acid During Pregnancy
If medication causes the folic acid deficiency, the further course of action must be discussed with the doctor on an individual basis. The doctor will then discuss whether the drug can be discontinued and replaced with another, or whether folic acid is simply taken in addition.
Medicines that cause folic acid deficiency are e.g. Methotrexate. Read more about this at: Methotrexate
In the case of illnesses associated with poor food intake, in some cases the options for improving food intake are so limited that no other therapies are possible in addition to the additional intake of folic acid.

Regardless of the cause, it is also advisable to consume foods that are high in folic acid. These include Vegetables, legumes and whole grains.

Read more on the subject at: Foods with folic acid

This is how you should eat if you have a folic acid deficiency

First of all, if you have a folic acid deficiency, it is of course important to meet your folic acid requirements. This should be done through dietary supplements until the deficiency is compensated. Because in this way a sufficient supply can be ensured.

This article might also interest you: What happens in the event of a folic acid overdose?

Nevertheless, there are many foods that contain a lot of folic acid and that can counteract or prevent a deficiency. Foods with a lot of folic acid are chickpeas and liver, although the folic acid content in the liver varies depending on the animal. The folic acid content can be over 300 µg per 100 grams. In addition to the chickpeas, normal peas and lentils also contain a relatively high amount of folic acid.

But there are other foods that are high in folic acid. On the one hand, these include legumes. But wheat bran and oatmeal also have a high folic acid content.
Furthermore, many types of vegetables provide folic acid - especially leafy vegetables such as spinach. But also lamb's lettuce and various types of cabbage, e.g. Brussels sprouts contain plenty of folic acid. Compared to vegetables, fruits contain less folic acid. Sour cherries and strawberries are the fruits with a lot of folic acid.
Among the animal products, eggs, kidneys and cheese, such as brie or camembert, are not low in folic acid.

For further information we recommend our website: These foods contain folic acid!

Diagnosing folic acid deficiency

As always, the first important thing is the conversation between the doctor and the patient.
A blood test is then essential to establish the diagnosis. Here, among other things, a complete blood count and a blood spread are made, with which you can look at the shape of the red blood cells. These are increased in folic acid deficiency anemia (anemia).

In addition, various values are collected that can indicate the cause of anemia. The folic acid level in the blood is determined to determine the cause of a folic acid deficiency. In rare cases, a bone marrow examination is necessary to clarify the cause.

Also read: Anemia due to folic acid deficiency

This is how the blood count changes

In the case of a folic acid deficiency, the hemoglobin value (dye of the red blood cells), the erythrocyte count (the number of red blood cells) and / or the hematocrit (proportion of the red blood cells in the volume of the blood) are reduced, as the folic acid deficiency reduces the formation of blood cells.

Not only the red, but all blood cells are affected. However, the formation of hemoglobin (pigment in red blood cells) is not impaired. Therefore, the red blood cells are enlarged and have a higher hemoglobin content than healthy people. In addition, the iron value is often increased.

For more information, read also: Erythrocyte parameters

Course of the disease with a folic acid deficiency

The symptoms are improved by taking folic acid. However, a little patience is required until the complete deficiency is compensated. In alcoholics, who often suffer from a folic acid deficiency, completely avoiding alcohol improves the course of the disease and the prognosis significantly.

How long does a folic acid deficiency last?

The duration of therapy depends on the severity and cause of the folic acid deficiency. In addition to treating the cause, folic acid tablets are always given. In some cases it makes sense to take this even when the deficiency has already been compensated to prevent it from occurring again. This is e.g. the case in diseases with impaired food intake.

What can be the long-term consequences of a folic acid deficiency?

As a rule, there are no long-term consequences after successful therapy for folic acid deficiency.
The anemia is receding again. The folic acid deficiency does not normally lead to any other severe symptoms. However, if there are rare neurological complaints, these cannot be reversed. In the early stages, however, they are usually reversed.

What are the consequences of a folic acid deficiency during pregnancy?

There is a higher need for folic acid during pregnancy, as folic acid is necessary for the child's development. It is particularly important to ensure that you have an adequate intake of folic acid at the beginning of pregnancy.

This is where the neural tube develops, from which the brain and the spinal cord later develop. A folic acid deficiency increases the risk of malformations of the neural tube.
These manifest themselves in malformations on the lower back, the so-called spina bifida, which can be of various degrees of severity.
In the case of slight malformations, only the vertebral body is incomplete. In severe cases, the legs can be paralyzed. Malformations in the brain are less common. In bad cases the child is not viable.

Read more on this topic at: Folic Acid During Pregnancy