What causes folate-deficiency anemia?
This anemia is typically caused by a poor diet, in which adequate amounts of folic acid are lacking. Folic acid is present in foods such as green vegetables, liver, and yeast. It is also produced synthetically and added to many food items. Alcohol interferes with the absorption of folate, so persons who drink excessively are at risk for folate-deficiency anemia. Folate deficiency can also be seen in certain diseases of the lower digestive tract such as celiac disease, or in persons with cancer. The inability to absorb folic acid may also be inherited. Inherited congenital folate malabsorption, a genetic problem in which infants cannot absorb folic acid in their intestines, can lead to megaloblastic anemia. This requires early intensive treatment to prevent long-term problems such as mental retardation. Certain medications, specifically ones that prevent seizures, such as phenytoin, primidone, and phenobarbital, can impair the absorption of folic acid. The deficiency can usually be trea
