Question

Jeanne Kim is a 37-year-old pregnant female. She is at her OB-GYN physician’s office for a 16-week checkup. She states she has been experiencing decreased appetite, weight loss, weakness, and fatigue, and has been very irritable. Jeanne’s lab work confirms that she is anemic. When asked about her diet, Jeanne states she mostly eats chicken, rice, and some fruits, but she doesn’t like vegetables. Jeanne’s physician diagnoses her with a vitamin deficiency. Answer the following questions.

1. Which vitamin is Jeanne deficient in? (3 pts.)

2. Jeanne’s physician explains that during pregnancy, a deficiency in this vitamin can result in which condition in newborns? (3 pts.)

3. Jeanne’s physician tells her to begin taking an OTC supplement for the deficiency. What should she recommend as the maximum dose of this vitamin per day? (3 pts.)

4. In addition to supplementation, name one food that Jeanne can increase in her diet that is rich in this vitamin. (1 pt.)

Answer 1

The patient is anemic and does not like to eat vegetables. The vitamin which is found more in the vegetable is vitamin B9 or folic acid. The other vitamins can be obtained from meat, and seafood sources. Folic acid is essential for maturation of red blood cells during RBC formation, and the deficiency can leads to macrocytic anemia. the symptoms include persistent fatigue, weakness, and irritability.

1. Jeanne may be having Folic acid or vitamin B9 deficiency due to poor dietary intake.

2. The fetal spinal cord is developed during the first trimester ( or within 4- 5 weeks) of pregnancy. Folic acid is an essential component of growth and development of fetal brain and spinal cord.The maternal folic acid deficiency can leads to a condition known as neural tube defect in newborn.

3. The usual dose of folic acid is 1-5 mg once daily and the maximum dose is 15 mg once daily , orally.

4. Green leafy vegetables are the richest source of vitamin B9. The other sources include asparagus, beans, and citrus fruits.