A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of FOLIC ACID in the diet. Many plant and animal tissues contain folic acid, abundant in green leafy vegetables, yeast, liver, and mushrooms but destroyed by long-term cooking. Alcohol interferes with its intermediate metabolism and absorption. Folic acid deficiency may develop in long-term anticonvulsant therapy or with use of oral contraceptives. This deficiency causes anemia, macrocytic anemia, and megaloblastic anemia. It is indistinguishable from vitamin B 12 deficiency in peripheral blood and bone marrow findings, but the neurologic lesions seen in B 12 deficiency do not occur. (Merck Manual, 16th ed)

Descriptor ID	D005494
MeSH Number(s)	C18.654.521.500.133.699.308
Concept/Terms	Folic Acid Deficiency Folic Acid Deficiency Deficiency, Folic Acid Acid Deficiencies, Folic Acid Deficiency, Folic Deficiencies, Folic Acid Folic Acid Deficiencies

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more general than "Folic Acid Deficiency".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is related to "Folic Acid Deficiency".

Below are MeSH descriptors whose meaning is more specific than "Folic Acid Deficiency".