Associated with a Deficiency of Folic Acid

Conditions Associated with a Deficiency of Folic Acid 

A deficiency of folic acid results in the development of a megaloblastic anemia and more rarely neuropathy. The deficiency may result from a reduced intake, an increased demand (e.g., pregnancy), abnormal metabolism, or as a result of various drug therapies. 

As has already been stated there is an increased requirement for the vitamin during pregnancy. This means that large numbers of women in the lower socioeconomic groups in many if not most countries will become folate deficient during pregnancy unless they are given additional folate to supplement that present in their diets. A similar problem exists with iron, and several pharmaceutical companies market a capsule which contains both iron and folic acid. 

During pregnancy the serum folate level progressively foils. Davis (D15) measured the serum folate in blood samples collected from 100 consecutive 

Folate deficiency has been shown to be responsible for birth defects in rats. Armstrong and Monie (A4) have shown that malformations of the eyes occurred in folate-deficient fetuses and these included anophthalmia or microphthalmia, reduction or absence of the optic nerve fibers, duplication of the optic cup, and a number of other defects. However, in the rat these defects were associated with a deficiency of maternal folate during pregnancy particularly between the seventh and ninth days. 

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Conditions Associated with a Deficiency of Folic Acid. 256... 

Very rarely an anemia, thought to be pernicious, is associated with a deficiency of folic acid severe enough to prevent the initial response to vitamin Bis. Ungley (1952) has described two such cases, and Cox and Ungley (unpublished) have seen a third. These three patients did not respond initially to vitamin Bis until another hemopoietic agent such as folic acid or citrovorum factor bad been supplied. Thereafter and in... 

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