Authors :
Dr M Swathi Shenoy; Dr Muthathal Subramanian
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 3 - March
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/3TmGbDi
Scribd :
https://bit.ly/3K0ckfK
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7797185
Abstract :
Folic acid is the most vital micronutrient for
the survival of human beings, regardless of age and
gender. The need for folic acid and its significance is
spoken well and addressed in India, particularly for
reproductive women during the preconception period
and pregnant mothers. The supplementation is taken
care of through iron-folic acid under the national
programme for other beneficiaries also, i.e., adolescents
and under-five children. The current review is done to
know the burden of folic acid deficiency across different
age groups in India. The prevalence of folic acid
deficiency varied from 2% to 79.5%. The higher range
of prevalence was observed during adolescence, followed
by under-five children. Though folic acid
supplementation is ensured during antenatal care,
17.5% to 29.4% of pregnant mothers had folate
deficiencies. This indirectly conveys the increased risk
for the birth of newborns with neural tube defects. Not
only associated with anemia or neural tube defects, folate
deficiency results in abnormalities in the cardiovascular
system, gastrointestinal system, neuro-cognitive
abnormalities, visual defects, developmental delay, and
cancers. With such a high burden, folic acid deficiency
becomes a significant public health problem. Due to
dietary variations, most people in the country still need
to meet the average folate requirement. Strategies
strengthening the nutritional changes and
supplementation need to be revised time-to-time
appropriately with the difference in the prevalence.
Keywords :
Burden, Folic Acid Deficiency, India, Prevalence
Folic acid is the most vital micronutrient for
the survival of human beings, regardless of age and
gender. The need for folic acid and its significance is
spoken well and addressed in India, particularly for
reproductive women during the preconception period
and pregnant mothers. The supplementation is taken
care of through iron-folic acid under the national
programme for other beneficiaries also, i.e., adolescents
and under-five children. The current review is done to
know the burden of folic acid deficiency across different
age groups in India. The prevalence of folic acid
deficiency varied from 2% to 79.5%. The higher range
of prevalence was observed during adolescence, followed
by under-five children. Though folic acid
supplementation is ensured during antenatal care,
17.5% to 29.4% of pregnant mothers had folate
deficiencies. This indirectly conveys the increased risk
for the birth of newborns with neural tube defects. Not
only associated with anemia or neural tube defects, folate
deficiency results in abnormalities in the cardiovascular
system, gastrointestinal system, neuro-cognitive
abnormalities, visual defects, developmental delay, and
cancers. With such a high burden, folic acid deficiency
becomes a significant public health problem. Due to
dietary variations, most people in the country still need
to meet the average folate requirement. Strategies
strengthening the nutritional changes and
supplementation need to be revised time-to-time
appropriately with the difference in the prevalence.
Keywords :
Burden, Folic Acid Deficiency, India, Prevalence