Customer question:
What are the symptoms of folic acid deficiency? Anonymous customer's question
Pharmacist's answer:
Vitamin B12 or B9 (commonly called folate) deficiency anemia occurs when a lack of vitamin B12 or folate causes the body to produce abnormally large red blood cells that cannot function properly. Most of the symptoms are the same, whether caused by folate or vitamin B12 deficiency.
Symptoms include:
- headaches
- loss of appetite
- vision problems
- Rapid breathing or shortness of breath
- feeling weak or tired
- problems with memory, understanding, and judgment (cognitive changes)
- sore or red tongue, sometimes with mouth ulcers
- digestive disorders
- palpitations
- diarrhea
Some of these symptoms may also occur in people deficient in vitamin B12 or folate but have not developed anemia. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause symptoms affecting the brain and nervous system (neurological symptoms), including:
- numbness
- muscle weakness
- psychological problems, which can range from mild depression or anxiety to confusion and dementia
- problems with balance and coordination
- incontinence
Interesting reading: Folic acid and pregnancy
