It is particularly abundant in dark green leafy vegetables, beans, peanuts, sunflower seeds, fresh fruits, whole grains liver, seafood and eggs.
The first signs of a deficiency are extreme tiredness, lack of energy, a sore or red tongue, muscle weakness and disturbed vision.
Where dietary modifications fail to correct a nutritional deficiency, folate supplement supplements could help.
Correcting a deficiency is critical, as the nutrient is essential for a number of biological processes in the body.