by Peter Sedesse

Created on: September 27, 2010

A Vitamin B9 deficiency is a rare occurrence, but when it does occur, many of the problems it causes are severe and non-reversible.  The most commonly known problem associated with a Vitamin B9 deficiency are related to pregnancy and fetal development.  It is important to know that Vitamin B9 comes in two forms, folate which naturally occurring, and Folic Acid which is man-made.  While they are slightly different chemically, the both act exactly the same once inside the body.  Folic Acid is probably more commonly known because it is the form that is used in vitamin supplements.  A Vitamin B9 deficiency in non-pregnant individuals are also closely associated with some of the leading mortal diseases such as cardiac disease, cancer and strokes.

Vitamin B9 in the form of Folate can be found in many fruits and vegetables including most green, leafy vegetables like spinach, as well as fruits and vegetables such as oranges, bananas and tomatoes.  The synthetic form of Vitamin B9 ( Folic Acid) is commonly added to cereals, bread and pasta.  Individuals eating well-rounded diets generally do not need to take supplements, but because of the severe problems caused by a vitamin B9 deficiency during pregnancy, supplementation is highly recommended.  It takes severely high amounts of Folic Acid to have any undesirable effects, so vitamin supplements along with a well-balanced diet won't cause any overdose problems.

The most prominent problem caused by a vitamin B9 deficiency during pregnancy is the development of Spina Bifida.  This occurs when the spinal column does not close properly during early fetal development.  A deficiency of Vitamin B9 during pregnancy can also cause many other problems, which include, abortion, premature birth, low-birth weight and slowed mental development.  These develop because Vitamin B9 is used extensively during cellular division and a Vitamin B9 deficiency actually slows down the rate at which many cells divide.  Because the extremely precise timing required for proper fetal development, any problem with the rate of cellular division has a cascading effect during the entire pregnancy.  In addition of problems with fetal development, a Folic Acid deficiency also increases the chances of the mother developing pre-eclampsia.

There are other problems associated with Vitamin B9s function in cellular reproduction.  One of the major uses of Folic Acid by the body during cellular reproduction is as a 'proof-reader' when DNA is replicated.  When there is a Vitamin B9 deficiency, this function in impaired, which leads to an increased chance of errors to occur in DNA.  When there are errors in the DNA, the new cell will often die prematurely, or become cancerous.

Another area where a deficiency in Vitamin B9 results in the decreased reproduction of cells involves red blood cells.  When there is a Vitamin B9 deficiency, the red cells that are produced are much more likely to not be able to carry oxygen correctly.  This anemia will lead to a large number of different symptoms throughout the body including fatigue, mental confusion and irritability.

Finally, the body uses Vitamin B9 to regulate the amount of homocysteine in the blood.  Homocysteine is an amino acid that is partially responsible for clots to form inside the blood vessels.   Poorly regulated homocysteine levels can lead to clots which cause heart attacks and strokes.

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