A person who is developing a folic acid deficiency undergoes a series of stages that reflect the severity of the deficiency.
Parameters:
(1) serum folic acid levels
(2) red blood cell and tissue folic acid stores
(3) biochemical effects (including effect on erythropoiesis and myeloid cell development)
(4) clinical manifestations of megaloblastic anemia
|
Serum Folate Levels
|
Tissue Levels
|
Biochemical Effect
|
Megaloblastic Anemia
|
Stage
|
|
normal
|
normal
|
normal
|
absent
|
0
|
|
decreased
|
normal
|
normal
|
absent
|
1
|
|
decreased
|
decreased
|
normal
|
absent
|
2
|
|
decreased
|
decreased
|
abnormal
|
absent
|
3
|
|
decreased
|
decreased
|
abnormal
|
present
|
4
|
where:
• A person who has just received a dose of folic acid may have normal serum folate levels while other signs of a deficiency are present.
