Deficiency

Vitamin B9 is the most common deficiency in the world.
A deficiency of folic acid limits cell function (cell division and protein synthesis) and affects the normal growth and repair of all cells and tissues in the body. The tissues that have the fastest rate of cell replacement are affected first.

Folic acid deficiency can induce:

Risk of delivering a baby with Neural Tube Defects
Anemia caused by malformed blood cells that can not carry oxygen
Deficiency leads to an anemia that is very similar to that caused by vitamin B12 deficiency (Megaloblastic anemia)
Deficiency can exists without anemia and can produce generalized weakness, easy fatigability, irritability and cramps
Cardiac problems
Neuralgic problems

Who can be touched by a deficiency?

People who have an unbalanced diet
Alcoholics
Smokers
Elderly: this kind of people usually have a poor diet, malabsorption problems and most of them take drugs that interact with the absorption of this vitamin
People who are deficient in vitamin B12
People who have an usually high production of red cells (hemolytic anemia)
Pregnant women