Anemia of Folate Deficiency is a form of megaloblastic anemia caused by a lack of folic acid in the diet. This deficiency causes a decrease of red blood cells, which are crucial to the transportation of oxygen through the blood stream.

What Are the Symptoms?

Many people may be asymptomatic. However, when symptoms do occur they include tiredness, headache, pallor or jaundice, and sore mouth and tongue.

What Causes Anemia of Folate Deficiency?

Poor dietary intake of folic acid such as in people who do not eat fresh fruit and vegetables. This condition also affect people who have malabsorption diseases such as Crohn’s disease and sprue, or people who are alcoholic or are on certain medication that inhibit absorption of folic acid, such as Dilantin.

How Is Anemia of Folate Deficiency Diagnosed?

Folate tests, low red blood cell folate level tests, complete blood count, and bone marrow examinations can all diagnose anemia of folate deficiency. All these tests involve taking a blood sample. Red blood cells will appear abnormally large and be few in number.

How Is it Treated?

Folic acid supplements can be taken on a short-term basis until the anemia has been corrected. Increasing intake of liver, citrus, and green leafy vegetables increases folic acid.

Special Considerations:

Folate deficiency can cause neural tube defects in the fetus of a pregnant woman. It is especially important to increase the amount of folate in the diet prior to conception and during each pregnancy.

Thomas G. Stovall, M.D.
Dr. Stovall is a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis, Tennessee and Partner of Women’s Health Specialists, Inc.