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.
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• 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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8. Complications of Folate Deficiency

Left untreated, folate deficiency may cause pregnancy complications, fetal defects and megaloblastic anemia.³‘Folate Deficiency.’ Winchester Hospital, www.winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article?id=96682. Heart disease, nervous system problems and temporary infertility are other possible effects of folate deficiency.

The longer the folate deficiency exists before diagnosis and treatment, the more likely it is that complications occur.⁶NHS Choices, NHS, www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamin-b12-or-folate-deficiency-anaemia/. Once the underlying cause of the deficiency is identified and treated, improvement normally takes place within three to six months.⁷‘Folate-Deficiency Anemia.’ Mount Sinai Health System, www.mountsinai.org/health-library/diseases-conditions/folate-deficiency-anemia. Long-term outcomes are usually excellent.⁵Khan, Kashif M. ‘Folic Acid Deficiency.’ StatPearls /[Internet/]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 30 June 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535377/.