INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................1

REVIEW OF LITERATURE.........................................................................

METHODOLOGY........................................................................................

PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA..........................................

CONCLUSION............................................................................................

WORKS CITED...........................................................................................

APPENDIX A..............................................................................................

APPENDIX B..............................................................................................

"Anemia can be defined as a decrease in the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood caused by low hemoglobin concentration" ("A Practical Guide", 1). "Cells in the body require oxygen to fully utilize fuels. The oxygen is transported from the lungs to tissues throughout the body via red blood cells. Oxygen binds to hemoglobin, a specific molecule within each

"Most people can prevent folic acid deficiency by eating a balanced diet, limiting their consumption of alcohol, and taking prescribed supplements during pregnancy. If you have folic acid deficiency, it is important to eliminate the condition that was its underlying cause. In some cases, adequate nutrition is the remedy. The main food sources of this vitamin are raw fruits and vegetables, liver, and kidney. In almost all cases, supplemental folic acid is given orally every day. It is injected only if the underlying problem is a disorder of the intestinal tract that severely interferes with absorption" (Mayo, 960). It is also important to stop smoking because it increases vitamin requirements (rxmed, 2).

The results obtained from the survey were very useful in the study. Out of the one hundred surveys sent out, ninety-eight were returned. The information gained from the survey was consistent with the other findings of this study. It clarified differences and similarities between the different types of nutritional anemia. The importance of performing this research has been reinforced by the information that has been gathered. There are many problems that can arise from these diseases if left untreated, and there are many simple things that everyone can do to prevent these diseases from entering their lives. The following are results from the study.

"Anemia." WellWeb. Online. Internet. 11 November 1999.

"The symptoms of folic acid deficiency are similar to those of pernicious anemia, so your physician will perform various blood tests to distinguish between the two disorders. These include conunting the cells in your blood, examining the cells under a microscope, and measuring the amount of folic acid in the blood. If folic acid deficiency anemia is present, your physician may perform more tests to look for an underlying cause" (Mayo, 959).

"Folic acid, which is also known as folate, is a member of the vitamin B group. Lack of it causes an anemia characterized by red blood cells that are large but few in number. Deficiency can result if you do not get enough folic acid in your diet to meet your body's demands or if your intestines cannot absorb it" (Mayo, 959). "Poor diet coupled with alcoholism is the most common cause of folate deficiency. Alcohol abuse not only contributes to malnutrition, but alcohol causes chemical changes that can result in lower folate levels. Deficiencies can also be caused by high demand for folic acid caused by conditions such as cancer, pregnancy, severe psoriasis, severe hyperthyroidism, and hemolytic anemia. Some drugs, including dilantin, methotrexate, trimethoprim, and triamterene, may also hinder folate absorption" ("Anemia, 6) webmd. "Pregnant women who are anemic have an increased risk for poor pregnancy outcomes, particularly if they are anemic in the first trimester. Low levels of folic acid during pregnancy are common in the absence of supplements, and deficiencies during the first three months increase the risk for neural tube defects in newborns" ("Anemia", 9) webmd. "Folic acid is critical in the body's metabolism of amino acids, as well as in the formation of healthy red blood cells. That's why a deficiency of folic acid may cause a form of anemia. Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, and therefore cannot be stored in any great quantity in the body, and so must be replenished by diet on a regular basis" (Intelihealth, 2). Animal organs, such as the kidney and liver, contain the largest amounts of Folate. Other food sources that contain abundant amounts of folic acid are green leafy vegetables, including spinach, collards, asparagus and broccoli, orange juice, bananas, whole wheat products, beans and peas. As with iron, the amount of folic acid that gets absorbed depends on its source. Only 25 to 50 percent of folic acid from foods is absorbed. Some reasons for reduced absorption of folic acid include overcooking vegetables, leaving raw

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