Cardiovascular system >>>> Folic acid deficiency anemia - causes and treatment

Folic acid deficiency anemia - causes and treatment.

Violation of the processes of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow due to insufficient intake into the body, decreased absorption (absorption) or increased consumption of folic acid by the body is called "folate deficiency anemia".

The reasons for the development of folate deficiency anemia as a consequence of insufficient intake of folic acid (vitamin B9) from food are associated with the fact that folic acid enters the body as part of folate compounds in the form of fresh vegetables (lettuce, asparagus, spinach, legumes, mushrooms, broccoli), with meat , liver, milk, chocolate, yeast products. An improperly organized diet that excludes these foods or their consumption in a cooked form, when 50% of folate is destroyed, lead to a lack of folic acid. In children, insufficient intake of folic acid with food may be associated with the use of goat milk and artificial mixtures that do not contain folic acid in their feeding.

Folic acid, supplied with food, is absorbed in the small intestine and enters the bloodstream, then is deposited in the liver. With a lack of external supply of folic acid, it begins to be consumed from the depot. In the absence of replenishment of folic acid from external sources within 4-5 months, its endogenous reserves are depleted, and folic acid deficiency anemia develops - the number of red blood cells decreases, red blood cells of irregular shape appear, immature forms of red blood cells containing an increased amount of hemoglobin - the so-called megaloblastic anemia.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, impaired absorption of useful components lead to the fact that folic acid is not absorbed by the body and does not participate in metabolic processes, or rather in the construction of DNA. In a number of diseases, the absorption (absorption) of folic acid is impaired: in granulomatous enteritis, in chronic alcoholism, celiac disease and other diseases. Some drugs interfere with the absorption of folic acid: barbiturates, anticonvulsants, oral contraceptives.

Excessive excretion of folic acid from the body is promoted by liver disease (cirrhosis of the liver), heart failure, hemodialysis procedure.

Signs of folate deficiency anemia are manifested in the form of:

pallor of the skin,
dizziness,
general weakness,
increased heart rate,
low blood pressure.

Treatment of folate deficiency anemia requires the identification and treatment of diseases that impede the absorption of folic acid, as well as the organization of nutrition with the introduction of foods with a high content of folic acid into the diet, the consumption of vitamin complexes with the participation of folic acid.

Prevention of folate deficiency anemia implies timely diagnosis of diseases that provoke this type of anemia. It is especially important to prevent the development of folate deficiency anemia in pregnant and premature babies. People with psoriasis, hemolytic anemia, and exfoliative dermatitis need an increased intake of folic acid.