Folate deficiency overview: Difference between revisions
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==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
[[Folate deficiency]] is the deficiency of folic acid, which is a necessary compound for the normal production of red blood cells. Folic acid is part of the vitamin B complex. The recommended daily amount of '''[[Folic Acid|folate]]''' for adults is 400 micrograms (mcg). Adult women who are planning pregnancy or could become pregnant should be advised to get 400 to 800 mcg of '''folic''' acid a day. The deficiency of [[Folic Acid|folic acid]] is associated with a type of [[anemia]], characterized by enlarged blood corpuscles, called [[megaloblastic anemia]].The anemia is thought to be due to problems in the synthesis of DNA precursors, specifically in the synthesis of [[thymine]], which is required for normal [[erythropoesis]] which is dependent on products of the [[5-methyltetrahydrofolate-homocysteine methyltransferase#reaction|MTR reaction]]. Other cell lines such as [[White blood cell|white blood cells]] and [[Platelet|platelets]] are also found to be low due to impaired division of the precursor cells. [[Bone marrow]] examination may show megaloblastic [[hemopoiesis]]. The anemia is easy to cure with folic acid supplementation. | |||
==Historical Perspective== | ==Historical Perspective== | ||
Revision as of 13:15, 1 June 2018
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Folate deficiency is the deficiency of folic acid, which is a necessary compound for the normal production of red blood cells. Folic acid is part of the vitamin B complex. The recommended daily amount of folate for adults is 400 micrograms (mcg). Adult women who are planning pregnancy or could become pregnant should be advised to get 400 to 800 mcg of folic acid a day. The deficiency of folic acid is associated with a type of anemia, characterized by enlarged blood corpuscles, called megaloblastic anemia.The anemia is thought to be due to problems in the synthesis of DNA precursors, specifically in the synthesis of thymine, which is required for normal erythropoesis which is dependent on products of the MTR reaction. Other cell lines such as white blood cells and platelets are also found to be low due to impaired division of the precursor cells. Bone marrow examination may show megaloblastic hemopoiesis. The anemia is easy to cure with folic acid supplementation.