Research Topic · Peer-Reviewed

Folate Deficiency

Folate deficiency is a nutritional state in which body stores of folate, the water-soluble B-group vitamin also known as vitamin B9, fall below the level needed to sustain normal one-carbon metabolism. Folate functions as a coenzyme in the transfer of single-carbon units required for the synthesis of purines and thy…

Curated from this journal's research 📚 9 peer-reviewed articles cited Cited 56× across the literature 🔖 ISSN 2379-7835 🗓 Reviewed June 2026

Overview

Folate deficiency is a nutritional state in which body stores of folate, the water-soluble B-group vitamin also known as vitamin B9, fall below the level needed to sustain normal one-carbon metabolism. Folate functions as a coenzyme in the transfer of single-carbon units required for the synthesis of purines and thymidylate, and for the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. When intake is inadequate, these pathways falter, impairing DNA replication in rapidly dividing tissues and producing megaloblastic changes in the bone marrow that manifest clinically as macrocytic anemia. The deficiency is recognized within a broader pattern of childhood and maternal micronutrient inadequacy, where household economic status, limited dietary diversity, and competing nutrient shortfalls converge. It carries particular significance in pregnancy, where insufficient folate is linked to neural tube defects and adverse fetal outcomes, and it can arise after bariatric surgery or in diets lacking fortified cereals, legumes, and leafy vegetables. Assessment and correction draw on dietary intake, fortification programs, and supplementation with folic acid, the synthetic form. Related work examines the physicochemical behavior of folic acid, complementary feeding practices, and the contribution of folate status to anemia surveillance in population-level nutrition research.

Research published in this journal

9 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.

How this research is being cited

The 9 articles above have been cited 56 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.

A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Folate Deficiency, linking to each citing work.

Editorial oversight

Curated from peer-reviewed research published in International Journal of Nutrition (ISSN 2379-7835).

Journal editorial board
Kadri Koppel · United States Alicja Kuban-Jankowska · Poland Luigia Pazzagli · Italy

This page summarises published research for orientation; it is not medical or professional advice.