Megaloblastic anemia due to folic acid deficiency is commonly due to

Ref Harrison 19 th ed pg 646 Dietary folate deficiency is common. Indeed, in most patients with folate deficiency a nutritional element is present. Ceain individuals are paicularly prone to have diets containing inadequate amounts of folate (Table 128-5). In the United States and other countries where foification of the diet with folic acid has been adopted, the preva- lence of folate deficiency has dropped dramatically and is now almost restricted to high-risk groups with increased folate needs.