Megaloblastic Anemia in Scurvy with Response to 50 Microgm. of Folic Acid Daily

Abstract

THE daily dietary requirement for folic acid is unknown, as is the minimal dose of folic acid that will induce hematologic response in a patient with folic acid deficiency. However, it has recently been reported that patients with folic acid deficiency in association with sprue respond hematologically to the oral administration of 25 microgm. of pteroylglutamic (folic) acid per day superimposed on their normal poor diet, which contains from 1000 to 1300 microgm. of total folic acid activity.¹ This finding suggests that they absorb only a small fraction of the total folic acid activity of the diet.The present study . . .