Folate deficiency: Difference between revisions
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* Preventing changes to DNA, therefore, for preventing cancer | * Preventing changes to DNA, therefore, for preventing cancer | ||
In adults, normal total body folate is between 10,000–30,000 micrograms (µg) with blood levels of greater than 7 nmol/L (3 ng/mL). | In adults, normal total body folate is between 10,000–30,000 micrograms (µg) with blood levels of greater than 7 nmol/L (3 ng/mL). | ||
=== Dietary sources === | |||
Folate naturally occurs in a variety of foods, including dark green leaf vegetables, fruits , nuts, soybeans, dairy products, poultry, eggs, seafood, grains, and some beers. Avocado, beetroot, spinach, liver, yeast, asparagus, kale, and Brussels sprouts are among the foods that contain the highest levels of folate. Folate found in food is susceptible to high heat, UV light and may also be susceptible to damage by oxidation. Folic acid is also added to grain products and these fortified products make up a significant source of the population's folate intake. For example enriched flour and fortified rice typically contain folate. | |||
==[[Folate deficiency causes|Causes]]== | ==[[Folate deficiency causes|Causes]]== | ||
Revision as of 15:37, 23 April 2018
| Folate deficiency | |
| Folic acid (B9) | |
| ICD-10 | D52 E53.8 |
| ICD-9 | 266.2 |
| DiseasesDB | 4894 |
| MedlinePlus | 000354 |
| MeSH | D005494 |
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Folate deficiency Microchapters |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Folate deficiency On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Folate deficiency |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Synonyms and keywords: Folic acid deficiency
Overview
Historical Perspective
Classification
Pathophysiology
Folate deficiency can occur when the body's need for folate is increased, when dietary intake or absorption of folate is inadequate, or when the body loses more folate than it acquires from the diet. Certain medications (e.g Anticonvuslants, Methotrexate, Sulfasalazine) can also interfere with the folate metabolism in our body. The deficiency is more common among pregnant women, infants, children, and adolescents. Poor diet and chronic alcoholism is also an important cause of folate deficiency.
Moreover, a defect in homocysteine methyltransferase or a deficiency of cobalamine (B-12) may lead to "folate trap". In vitamin B12 deficiency, the utilization of Methyl THF in the B-12 dependent methylation of homocysteine to methionine is impaired. THF is converted to methyl-THF which cannot be further metabolized, and serves as a sink of THF that leads to a subsequent deficiency in folate. Thus, a deficiency in B-12 can generate a large pool of methyl-THF that is unable to undergo reactions and resembles folate deficiency. Folate is absorbed in the small intestine, mainly in the Jejunum, after binding to specific receptor proteins. Inflammatory or degenerative changes in the small intestine, such as Crohn's disease, chronic enteritis, Celiac disease, may reduce the folate uptake, which gives rise to folate deficiency.
Physiology
In human body folic acid serves a lot of functions such as :
- Production and maintenance of new cells
- DNA and RNA synthesis
- Carrying one-carbon groups for various methylation reactions
- Preventing changes to DNA, therefore, for preventing cancer
In adults, normal total body folate is between 10,000–30,000 micrograms (µg) with blood levels of greater than 7 nmol/L (3 ng/mL).
Dietary sources
Folate naturally occurs in a variety of foods, including dark green leaf vegetables, fruits , nuts, soybeans, dairy products, poultry, eggs, seafood, grains, and some beers. Avocado, beetroot, spinach, liver, yeast, asparagus, kale, and Brussels sprouts are among the foods that contain the highest levels of folate. Folate found in food is susceptible to high heat, UV light and may also be susceptible to damage by oxidation. Folic acid is also added to grain products and these fortified products make up a significant source of the population's folate intake. For example enriched flour and fortified rice typically contain folate.
Causes
Differentiating Folate deficiency from other Diseases
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Screening
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms | Physical Examination | Laboratory Findings | Imaging Findings | Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Medical Therapy | Primary Prevention | Secondary Prevention | Cost-Effectiveness of Therapy | Future or Investigational Therapies