Folate deficiency
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Folate present in leafy green vegetables and fruit; total body stores sufficient for 2–3 mo
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Diagnosis: ↓ folate; ↓ RBC folate, ↑ homocyst. but nl methylmalonic acid (unlike B12 defic.)
Treatment:
- folate 1–5 mg PO qd for 1–4 mo or until complete hematologic recovery;
- critical to r/o B12 deficiency first (see below)