Symptoms of a lack of folic acid: the main manifestations and methods of treatment

2024 Author: Curtis Blomfield | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-02 05:35

Folic acid is sometimes jokingly referred to as the "optimist vitamin". This substance has an effect on the nervous system, hemoglobin production, appetite, and immunity. Folic acid belongs to the group of vitamins B and its deficiency is a serious test for the whole organism.

The role of folate in metabolism and the functioning of the central nervous system

Vitamin B_{9, or folic acid, is responsible for the process of repairing old and forming new blood cells. This ensures that the hemoglobin level is maintained at a level sufficient for a he althy metabolism. Protein is produced in hemoglobin cells. And it is needed to give the body iron, without which iron deficiency anemia develops.}

Folic acid is essential for a he althy metabolism. Fat and carbohydrate metabolism is impossible with a serious lack of vitamin B9. If folic acid deficiency, the symptoms of which are obvious, occurs in people with diabetes, they become obesedue to a violation of fat metabolism.

Folic acid is synthesized by the body in negligible amounts - that is why it is so important to get enough of this vitamin from food or dietary supplements.

Folic Acid Deficiency Symptoms

An experienced endocrinologist will quickly suggest vitamin B deficiency_{9 just by looking at the patient (of course, such a guess will have to be confirmed using laboratory tests):}

• pallor of the skin;
• lethargy, stoop, lack of vitality in the patient;
• unnatural thinness or, conversely, obesity;
• irritability, depression, unmotivated aggression;
• characteristic blue shadows under the eyes with a general pallor of the face;
• tremor of limbs, nervous tic, twitching of lips and eyelids;
• rosacea on the skin of the face;
• acne, acne, psoriasis, vitiligo on the skin of the face and hands;
• quick fatigue, sleep problems.

Symptoms of a lack of folic acid in a woman's body differ in that the hormonal status can make some adjustments to the usual clinical picture. A woman may not experience overwork - but, on the contrary, be overly filled with energy. such a condition occurs, for example, when hyperthyroidism is combined with B_{9 deficiency. These symptoms of folic acid deficiency are very individual and can be drastically different for each female patient. Someone is anxious, and someone, on the contrary, is excessivecalm. The combination of vitamin deficiency and hormonal problems often creates an unpredictable clinical picture.}

Causes of lack of folic acid in the body

The main reason is malnutrition. Coffee for breakfast, instant noodles for lunch, a burger for dinner: these types of food incapacitate the human body very quickly. To prevent a deficiency of vitamins and minerals, it is necessary that vegetables, fruits, veal, chicken, quail and chicken eggs, cottage cheese, kefir, milk, home-cooked fish be present in the diet every day. With proper nutrition, the symptoms of a lack of folic acid will never affect a person.

The second common cause is alcohol abuse. Ethanol flushes out folic acid reserves, forcing the liver to use it for intoxication needs of the body. People who drink alcohol more than once a week are guaranteed to experience folic acid deficiency symptoms.

The next reason is problems with the functioning of the intestines: colitis, ulcers, polyps, erosion. These diseases lead to interruptions in the absorption of useful components into the blood. Thalassemia disrupts normal red blood cell metabolism. As a result, the transit of beneficial substances into the circulatory system and to organ tissues is inhibited.

Pregnancy also requires an increased amount of folic acid in the diet, since the embryo "takes" about 60% of the total amount of folic acid from the mother during development and growthin the body.

Drugs to treat B9 deficiency

We looked at the main causes and symptoms of folic acid deficiency in the body. Treatment of such conditions is not a matter of one day. It is important not only to fill the vitamin deficiency, but also to maintain it at the proper level, to eat right. What do doctors usually prescribe?

You can take the drug "Folic acid" in its pure form from the domestic pharmaceutical company "MosPharm" or choose multivitamin complexes. The most popular of them, designed to compensate for the lack of folic acid in the body (deficiency reasons - malnutrition), are as follows:

• "Supradin" is a vitamin-mineral complex produced in the form of dragees and effervescent tablets for dissolution in water. The cost of packaging is from five hundred to seven hundred rubles. One dragee contains 20 mg of folic acid. In addition to vitamin B_{9, the preparation contains the necessary daily intake of all other B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, iodine, selenium, zinc, manganese, iron.}

• "Doppelherz Active from A to Zinc" - a multivitamin that is suitable for men, women, teenagers. The cost per package (which is enough for a month of admission) is about four hundred rubles. The complex contains the optimal amount of vitamins and minerals for a person with moderate physical activity, who is relatively rarely exposed to stress and unrest.
• "AlphabetClassic" is a comprehensive multivitamin complex that satisfies the need not only for folic acid, but also for all other B vitamins, minerals (calcium, magnesium, iodine, selenium, zinc, manganese, iron).
• "Vitrum Beauty" is a vitamin and mineral complex that was created specifically for people with problem skin. One dragee contains 30 mg of folic acid, as well as a full range of B vitamins and brewer's yeast extract. The multicomponent composition of "Vitrum Beauty" has a healing effect on the skin and can help in the fight against folic acid deficiency.

Of course, prevention is extremely important, but more on that later.

Consequences of dietary folate deficiency

What threatens folic acid deficiency? Here are the most common consequences of this condition:

• insomnia, problems with sleep phases;
• depression, dysphoria, asthenia, depression;
• increased anxiety and unmotivated aggression;
• disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
• development of peptic ulcer;
• problems with the absorption of iron and, as a result, anemia;
• in men - infertility, impotence;
• For women, folate deficiency complicates the course of diseases associated with hormone imbalances.

Iron deficiency anemia due to folic acid deficiency

Iron deficiency anemia is a common condition that develops due to an imbalance of vitamin B_{9 in the body of adults and children. Chronic folate deficiency canbecome not only the cause of irritability and excess weight, but also lead to serious diseases of the internal organs. in particular, the pancreas suffers, which contributes to interruptions in insulin production and complications in diabetics (and if there was no diabetes, it can get a boost).}

It is useless to treat iron deficiency anemia caused by a lack of B_{9. You must first treat the symptoms of a lack of folic acid, then the signs of a ferritin deficiency will disappear by themselves.}

Nervous system response to folic acid deficiency

A patient whose nervous system is sensitive to B_{9 deficiency becomes literally unbearable: irritable, aggressive, anxious. He himself suffers from this state of his. Often patients turn to neurologists and psychiatrists in an attempt to get treatment, but few doctors remember that the cause of such symptoms can be a banal folate deficiency.}

Signs of folic acid deficiency (we have already named the reasons for this condition) from the nervous system:

• constant weakness, chronic fatigue;
• insomnia, problems with sleep phases;
• irritability;
• unmotivated aggression even against loved ones.

If these conditions are accompanied by pallor, skin problems (psoriasis, acne, urticaria) - you should think about folate deficiency.

Compatibilityfolic acid with other vitamins and minerals

Riboflavin may decrease the absorption of pyridoxine and folate. When injecting intramuscularly, it is worth taking a break between these drugs for about two hours.

Folic acid has a positive effect on the absorption of ferrous iron. Therefore, when taking iron preparations ("Sorbifer Durules"), it makes sense to drink folic acid in parallel.

Simultaneous intake of folate preparations with alcoholic beverages or alcohol tinctures (Corvalol, Valoserdin) most often leads to incomplete absorption of vitamin B_{9, since most of it is directly transported to the liver for use in the fight against intoxication of the body.}

Prevention of folic acid deficiency in the body

The main role is played by good nutrition. With a poor diet, the appearance of symptoms of a lack of folic acid is inevitable. Foods that can make up for vitamin B deficiency_{9 in the body:}

• chicken and quail eggs;
• spinach, celery, cauliflower;
• citrus fruits;
• dairy products: fermented baked milk, cottage cheese, kefir;
• nuts (almonds, peanuts, cashews, pistachios);
• turkey meat.

These foods should be present in the diet every day, then you do not have to resort to taking medication to replenish folic acid.