Question

1.Why are high-dose folate supplements not recommended?

2.A deficiency of which 2 B vitamins causes macrocytic anemia (large red blood cells)?

3.A deficiency of which B vitamin causes microcytic anemia (small red blood cells)?

4.What groups of people in the U.S. are most at risk for vitamin B 12 deficiency?

5.Which groups of people have higher vitamin C requirements?

Answer 1

Ans) 1) People who take recommended amounts of folic acid before cancer develops might decrease cancer risk, but taking high doses after cancer (especially colorectal cancer) begins might speed up its progression. For this reason, people should be cautious about taking high doses of folic acid supplements (more than the upper limit of 1,000 mcg), especially if they have a history of colorectal adenomas (which sometimes turn into cancer). More research is needed to understand the roles of dietary folate and folic acid supplements in cancer risk.

2) Hemoglobin is an iron-containing protein that transports oxygen around the body. Deficiencies in vitamin B-12 or folate often cause macrocytic anemia, so it is sometimes called vitamin deficiency anemia.

3) In microcytic anemia, the cells are smaller than normal. The most common causes of macrocytic anemia are vitamin B-12 and folate deficiency. Pernicious anemia is a type of macrocytic anemia due to the body not being able to absorb vitamin B-12.

4) Vegans (people who don't eat any meat, dairy, or eggs) are most at risk for developing a B12 deficiency because, aside from fortified breakfast cereals, the only reliable dietary sources of vitamin B12 are animal-derived products.