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Folate deficiency anaemia is a kind of megaloblastic anaemia that happens when the body does not have enough folate (vitamin B9), a vital nutrient required to produce healthy red blood cells and to synthesise DNA. A lack of folate causes the bone marrow to develop unusually big and immature red blood cells that cannot function properly. This reduces the blood's ability to deliver oxygen across the body.

This condition is often due to poor intake of leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, legumes and fortified cereals from the diet, excessive alcohol consumption, pregnancy, certain drugs and digestive problems such as coeliac disease that interfere with nutritional absorption. Symptoms may develop slowly and include tiredness, weakness, pale complexion, shortness of breath, disorientation, irritability, trouble concentrating, and a sore, red tongue.

The diagnosis may include blood tests such as a complete blood count (CBC), folate level, and inspection of the size of the red blood cells. Management includes treatment with folic acid and increasing dietary consumption of foods rich in folate. It is also very important to find and treat the root cause so that it doesn't happen again.

Early diagnosis and prompt treatment usually lead to complete recovery, with improvement in your energy levels, a return of your production of healthy red blood cells, and averted problems of long-term folate shortage.