What is folic acid anemia
This is an anaemia caused by the lack of folic acid. The red blood cells occur in smaller numbers and are enlarged and more stained or loaded with the red blood pigment haemoglobin compared to normal blood cells. In this context, the physician speaks of a megaloblastic-hyperchromic anemia.
A lack of vitamin B12 can also lead to such changes in the blood cells. For this reason, a vitamin B12 deficiency is usually also considered as a differential diagnosis. Among the symptoms of folic acid anemia are Tiredness and lack of concentration, headaches and dizziness, paleness and palpitations.
Furthermore, breathing difficulties and sensory disturbances may occur. Pure folic acid anaemia usually occurs when the body’s requirements are increased – for example, during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. In order to counteract a deficiency, it may be advisable to take folic acid tablets, since even with a healthy diet, the daily requirement of folic acid cannot always be sufficiently covered. Especially women with an existing desire to have children or in the first days and weeks of pregnancy should consult their gynecologist regarding the intake of folic acid to counteract a deficiency during pregnancy.
What are folic acid antagonists?
Folic acid antagonists are synthetically produced substances that are very similar in their chemical structure to the vitamin. The antagonists block the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, which normally converts the ingested folic acid into tetrahydrofolic acid. The tetrahydrofolic acid is an important component in the production of the DNA base thymine – or in simple terms a building block of DNA.
If this building block is missing, cell growth is impeded, and this phenomenon is mainly used in the therapy of tumor diseases. The folic acid antagonists are therefore often used as chemotherapeutic agents, i.e. as drugs that are used in cancer diseases. There are also other areas of application, such as the treatment of fungal infections, the therapy of autoimmune diseases or the treatment of HIV infection.
The areas of application of folic acid antagonists are therefore very broad. The large group of folic acid antagonists includes methotrexate, zidovudine, sulfonamides and cotrimoxazole.Methotrexate is an especially well known folic acid antagonist as it is used in the treatment of immune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease or lupus as well as in the treatment of tumor diseases. In contrast to the treatment of autoimmune diseases, the folic acid antagonist is then administered in a much higher dose when used as a chemotherapeutic agent.
