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FOLIC‐ACID DEFICIENCY IN PSYCHIATRIC PATIENTS
Author(s) -
Kariks J.,
Terry S. W.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1970.tb84524.x
Subject(s) - folic acid , vitamin b12 , medicine
Serum folic‐acid and vitamin B 12 levels have been estimated and hæmatological investigations have been carried out for 411 psychiatric patients. Of the patients Investigated, 33·23% had folic‐acid levels of 3·5 ng/ml or less, and showed also hæmatological changes in the peripheral blood, indicating folic‐acid deficiency. Only five had serum vitamin B 12 levels of 200 pg/ml or less. The possible causes for this widespread deficiency are briefly discussed. More detailed investigations are essential to determine the significance of folic‐acid deficiency In psychiatric patients.