How does lack of folic acid affect the body
Dec 18, 2018Toxicity. Signs and Symptoms Having too much folic acid in the body can result in a variety of signs and symptoms. Less serious side effects include digestive problems, nausea, loss of appetite, bloating, gas, a bitter or unpleasant taste in the mouth, sleep disturbances, depression, excessive excitement, irritability and a zinc deficiency.Folic Acid Deficiency. When someone is suffering from a deficiency, it means that there is not enough folate or folic acid in the body. Whether that is due to a diet lacking in B9-rich foods or because their body is unable to process B9 properly, it can cause long-lasting side effects if not addressed.When one takes high doses of folic acid, that is more than 1000 mcg a day, then there is the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency being masked. This is detrimental because folic acid from the supplement can correct anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, however, the nerve damage caused by the vitamin B12 deficiency goes undetected. Aug 01, 2018A few studies have found out that taking folic acid supplement can lessen depressive symptoms and prevent depression. The insufficiency of folic in the body can sometimes trigger depression, fatigue, irritability and even brain fog.So, like iron and other nutrients, a deficiency in folic acid can lead to anemia. Folic acid, B6 and B12 also help lower homocysteine levels in the blood. High generic cialis levels of homocysteine can increase risk for cardiovascular disease. Another important function of folic acid relates to brain health. Low levels of folic acid in the blood and high levels of homocysteine are associated with poor cognitive health.Folic acid works with vitamin B12 to help create healthy red blood cells. If you have a lack of folic acid in you diet during pregnancy there is a risk that your baby's neural tube may not form As with a vitamin B12 deficiency, a lack of folate can also affect an unborn baby's growth and development in the womb (uterus). This increases the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida developing in the unborn baby.If we do not have enough folic acid, the body can make abnormally large red blood cells that do not work properly. This causes folate deficiency anaemia, which can cause tiredness and other symptoms. Folic acid will help you make healthy red blood cells and improve or prevent the symptoms of anaemia.Heart disease: Early research suggests that taking folic acid plus vitamin B6 might increase the risk for heart attack in people with a history of heart disease. Anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency: Taking folic acid might mask anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency and delay appropriate treatment.Deficiency Symptoms in Adults. A lack of folic acid in your body may not cause immediate symptoms, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. If you are prone to folic acid deficiency, your physician can use a blood test to test for higher levels of homocysteine, a substance that can indicate a lack of the vitamin.Although it occurs in both males and females, folic acid deficiency anemia most often affects women over 30. It becomes increasingly common as age impedes the body's ability to absorb folic acid, a water-soluble vitamin that is manufactured by intestinal bacteria and stored for a short time in the liver.Folic acid is a water-soluble type of vitamin B. This means it is not stored in the fat tissues of the body. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave the body through the urine. Because folate is not stored in the body in large amounts, your blood levels will get low after only a few weeks of eating a diet low in folate. Jan 10, 2019High levels of folic acid may mask vitamin B12 deficiency, so talk with your doctor before taking folic acid. Folic acid supplementation is not suitable for people with megaloblastic anemias in which vitamin B12 is deficient. All of the B vitamins, including folic acid, are water-soluble; which means that the body does not store them.
