FOLIC ACID DEFICIENCY(ACQUIRED OR INHERITED) RISK FACTOR FOR GENETIC CHOLESTEROL FORMATION

Folic Acid is a supplement that when in decreased amounts can cause the accumulation of artery clogging cholesterol.

Folic acid deficiences can be either acquired or inherited.

When inherited it is related to a disease state that is called Homocystinuria and when acquired it is due to the following.

The main cause of decreased folic acid is a decrease in dietary intake and has it's causes from

1) Poverty

2) Old Age

3) Alcoholism

4) Chronic Diseases

MALABSORPTION

1) Tropical Sprue

2)Gluten-sensitive enteropathy

3)Childhood celiac disease

INCREASED REQUIREMENTS

Pregnancy( In the United States the goverment urges women that are planning to become pregnant to increase their levels of folic acid by eating foods that are high in folic acid or take vitamin supplements to increase their folic acid level.

4)Infancy

5)Malignancy (Their has been an association between low folate levels and leukemia in high risk patients.


DRUGS
Methotrexate
Primethamine
Phenytoin
Alcohol
Isoniazid
Oral Contraceptives
Others

The decrease in folate whether acquired or inherited can lead to
cholesterol build up on the arteries which leads to atherosclerosis.This supplement is added to many types of breads,grains and rice. This is done to boost our nutritional needs.

Reference Clinical Hematology and Fundamentals of Hemostasis
Denise M. Harmening Fourth Edition

Stay Healthy,
Laura