Folate Deficiency Causes, Symptoms & More

By shirley

Reviewed: dr. vanta

Article Sources

Article Sources

• 1. Folate Deficiency (Folic Acid Deficiency) By Larry E. Johnson, et al. 'Folate Deficiency - Disorders of Nutrition.' Merck Manuals Consumer Version, Merck Manuals, www.merckmanuals.com/home/disorders-of-nutrition/vitamins/folate-deficiency.
• 2. 'Folate-Deficiency Anemia.' Johns Hopkins Medicine, www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/folate-deficiency-anemia.
• 3. 'Folate Deficiency.' Winchester Hospital, www.winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article?id=96682.
• 4. 'Folate Deficiency Anemia.' Folate Deficiency Anemia | Michigan Medicine, www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hw152337.
• 5. Khan, Kashif M. 'Folic Acid Deficiency.' StatPearls /[Internet/]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 30 June 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535377/.
• 6. NHS Choices, NHS, www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamin-b12-or-folate-deficiency-anaemia/.
• 7. 'Folate-Deficiency Anemia.' Mount Sinai Health System, www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/folate-deficiency-anemia.
• 8. 'Folic Acid.' Womenshealth.gov, 1 Apr. 2019, www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/folic-acid.
• 9. 'Folate (Folic Acid).' Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 23 Feb. 2021, www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-folate/art-20364625.

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10. Is Too Much Folate Problematic?

While folate is normally not toxic¹Folate Deficiency (Folic Acid Deficiency) By Larry E. Johnson, et al. ‘Folate Deficiency - Disorders of Nutrition.’ Merck Manuals Consumer Version, Merck Manuals, www.merckmanuals.com/home/disorders-of-nutrition/vitamins/folate-deficiency., some evidence suggests high folate levels may worsen anemia and negatively impact cognition, especially in the elderly.⁵Khan, Kashif M. ‘Folic Acid Deficiency.’ StatPearls /[Internet/]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 30 June 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535377/. Excessive folate levels may also make detecting symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency more difficult. People should not take more than 1,000 micrograms of folic acid per day.⁸‘Folic Acid.’ Womenshealth.gov, 1 Apr. 2019, www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/folic-acid.

Folate supplements may cause allergic reactions in some people. They may also leave a bad taste in the mouth and cause nausea, appetite loss, confusion and irritability.⁹‘Folate (Folic Acid).’ Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 23 Feb. 2021, www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-folate/art-20364625.