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Folate deficiency - Overview

Alternative Names

Deficiency - folic acid, Folic acid deficiency

Definition of Folate deficiency:

Folate deficiency means you have a lower-than-normal amount of folic acid, a type of B vitamin, in your blood.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Folate deficiency is due to a lack of folic acid. Folic acid is found naturally in dark-green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, beans, and whole grains.

First trimester of pregnancy

Folic acid

Early weeks of pregnancy

Reviewed last on: 11/10/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Antony AC. Megaloblastic anemias. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 170.

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