Importance of vitamin B12 and folate metabolism in malabsorption.

The risk of developing folate deficiency is greatest in patients who have a poor diet and malabsorption secondary to disease of the jejunal mucosa or drugs which interfere with its metabolism. In contrast to cobalamin deficiency, in which body stores delay the onset of major metabolic complications, folate deficiency may develop in a matter of months. It is frequently possible to predict these deficiencies and always possible to reverse them by supplementation.