Folic acid deficiency is unnoticeable and can go for months before it can be diagnosed. Knowing the causes of folic acid deficiency will help us better understands the factors, symptoms, and further development of folic acid deficiency will help in reducing the rate of the deficiency.
As a common knowledge, humans cannot produce folate that is why humans rely on acquiring it through dietary intake. Throughout the world, folic acid food fortification has been introduced.
The common causes of folic acid deficiency are having a low daily intake of folic acid in foods. Folic acid rich foods includes fresh green leafy vegetables, legumes, and enriched grains either from processed food or through preparation. Prolonged storage and cooking will cause folate loss to up to 90%. Choosing a multivitamin is a good way to be sure your’e getting enough of it.
Common symptoms of folic acid deficiency are loss of appetite and eventually weight loss. Pregnant folate deficient women will more likely to give birth with a premature child with low birth weight and/or with neural tube defects. In most adults, being anemic is a sign of an advanced folate deficiency. Deficiency with folic acid will slow down the growth rate.
Folate and vitamin B12 plays a big role in depression as shown in studies regarding folate deficiency. The role of folate and vitamin B12 in depression is because of their role in the reaction of transmethylation.
A disrupt in transmethylation reaction is caused by low levels of folate and vitamin B12. This could lead to an accumulation of homocysteine and to impaired metabolism of neurotransmitters, phospholipids, myelin, and receptors. Hyperhomocysteinemia can lead to vascular injuries by oxidative mechanisms that can lead to some cerebral dysfunctions thus leading further to developing various disorders that includes depression.
Some studies involving depressive patients, doctors have seen that they are suffering from a low plasma B12 and low plasma folate. Low folate has shown to have a link to poor responses of antidepressant treatments and suggest that high vitamin B12 status can be associated with better treatment outcomes. As to conclude their studies, doctors have discovered that a daily consumption of these two viatimns will not only help in decreasing risk of developing depression but also can aid in treating this disorder when using antidepressants.
When the body’s need for folate is increased, a deficiency of folate may occur. This is caused when dietary intake of folate is inadequate, or when the body is excreting more folate than the usual amount to be excreted.
Another one of the causes of folic acid deficiency is when a person normally age. Folate becomes harder for the body to be properly absorbed.
Some other research shows that a frequent exposure to ultraviolet light can also lead to a folic acid deficiency.
Understand the causes of folic acid deficiency will help people know what to do prevent such deficiency to take place. A daily consumption of Vitamin Supplements will greatly help to actually prevent folic acid deficiency in the body.