Lack of folic acid
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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[Causes of deficiency (deficiency) of folic acid
Inadequate receipts due to:
- predilections in nutrition, low economic level;
- ways of cooking (prolonged boiling leads to the loss of 40% of folates);
- feeding with goat's milk (1 liter contains 6 micrograms of folate);
Alimentary folate deficiency ranks second in the world in terms of prevalence among deficient conditions (after iron deficiency of iron) and develops as a result of malnutrition and starvation. The incidence of disease in women is higher than that of men. Folate stores are depleted for 3 months with increased demand for them (during pregnancy, during lactation).
Metabolism of folic acid
Folic acid is important for the normal process of hematopoiesis. With its deficiency, erythro-, granulo- and thrombocytopoiesis are disrupted.
In the child's body, folic acid comes with food. Folate most rich in beef and chicken liver, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, asparagus, meat, yeast; in female and cow's milk, folate is 6 times more than in goat's milk. The daily requirement for folic acid is 20-50 μg, which is equivalent to 100-200 μg of food folate.
Symptoms of lack of folic acid
Clinically, the deficiency of folic acid in children is manifested by increasing lethargy, anorexia, low weight gain, a tendency to gastrointestinal disorders (chronic diarrhea is possible). There may be glossitis, an increase in infectious diseases, in far-reaching cases - thrombocytopenic bleeding. Neurological disorders, in contrast to the deficiency of vitamin B 12, no. However, it is noted that in the presence of psychoneurological disorders (epilepsy, schizophrenia), folate deficiency aggravates their course.
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Treatment of Folic Acid Deficiency
The optimal result of treatment is achieved with the appointment of folic acid in a dose of 100-200 mcg per day. One tablet contains 0.3-1.0 mg of folic acid, a solution for injection - 1 mg / ml. The duration of therapy is several months, until a new population of erythrocytes is formed.
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