Folic Acid Deficiency Anemia

Treatment Overview

You can treat folic acid deficiency anemia by increasing your intake of folic acid (folate). Usually taking a 1 mg folic acid supplement daily will improve anemia within 5 to 7 days. You can continue to take supplements until your body reaches proper levels of folic acid, usually between 1 week and 2 months.¹

When you no longer have folic acid deficiency anemia, you most likely will be able to maintain a proper level of folic acid if you eat foods high in folic acid, such as citrus fruits and dark green, leafy vegetables. A few people with chronic conditions (such as hemolytic anemia, overactive thyroid, and chronic liver failure) may have to take folic acid supplements for the rest of their lives.

What to think about

Before you begin your treatment, your health professional will determine if the cause of your anemia is low levels of folic acid or vitamin B12. Treating folic acid deficiency when a person has a vitamin B12 deficiency can be dangerous. A vitamin B12 deficiency causes nervous system damage over time. A person mistakenly treated for a folic acid deficiency may feel better at first, because many symptoms of anemia improve. Consequently, the nervous system damage caused by vitamin B12 deficiency may be missed and become worse.

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Author:	Ralph Poore	Last Updated: March 2, 2007
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology
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