Folic acid deficiency and vision: a review

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Ophthalmology
• Developmental Biology

Background:

• Folic acid (FA), or folate, is essential for cellular processes including nucleotide and amino acid biosynthesis.
• FA is critical for rapidly developing tissues, such as fetal tissues, and plays a role in neurotransmitter and vitamin synthesis.
• Deficiencies in FA and disruptions in folate pathways are linked to various diseases across the lifespan.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the scientific literature on the relationship between folic acid deficiency and eye diseases.
• To investigate the role of folate transport mechanisms in ocular tissues.
• To understand the implications of FA deficiency in eye development and health.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review of studies investigating folic acid and eye conditions.
• Analysis of research on folate transport proteins (folate receptor, reduced folate transporter, proton-coupled folate transporter) in ocular tissues.
• Synthesis of evidence linking FA deficiency to developmental and pathological eye conditions.

Main Results:

• Folate transport proteins are expressed in ocular tissues, indicating FA's importance for eye health.
• Evidence suggests a connection between FA deficiency and impaired eye development.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the specific mechanisms and clinical implications.

Conclusions:

• Folic acid plays a significant role in eye development and function.
• FA deficiency may contribute to the pathogenesis of certain eye diseases.
• Understanding folate's role is crucial for preventing and managing eye conditions.