Is folate (vitamin B9) deficiency hampering your child’s growth? Takeaways from a new study

Nearly 41 per cent of urban adolescents in government schools across north India suffer from folate or vitamin B9 deficiency, which might be affecting their growth and development, according to a recent study by the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

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Girls had a higher deficiency than boys. The study was conducted with 3,129 school-going adolescents from north India.

Folate is vitamin B-9, which is needed for red blood cell formation and for healthy cell growth and function, crucial for children in their developmental years. It is needed by cells to carry oxygen throughout the body. If there isn’t enough folate, it can lead to anaemia, when the body lacks enough red blood cells. Folate is involved in the synthesis and repair of DNA and RNA, which are the building blocks of genetic material. According to Dr Rakesh Tiwari, senior consultant, Paediatrics, Paras Health, Gurugram, folate deficiency in foundational years can lead to impaired cognitive development, behavioural issues, fatigue and reduced academic performance. “A deficiency can compromise children’s immunity, making them more susceptible to infections,” he says.