chronic hemolysis and vitamin deficiency

Q: Chronic hemolysis leads to the deficiency of which vitamin?

Answer: B9 (Folate)

Folate deficiency in chronic hemolysis is due to increased demand for compensatory red blood cell (RBC) production. The four major causes of folate deficiency are

• Pregnancy and lactation
• Chronic hemolytic anemias
• Exfoliative skin diseases
• Hemodialysis

Folate is essentially needed for DNA synthesis. 

#hematology

References:

1. Green R, Datta Mitra A. Megaloblastic Anemias: Nutritional and Other Causes. Med Clin North Am 2017; 101:297.

2. Allen LH. Causes of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency. Food Nutr Bull. 2008 Jun;29(2 Suppl):S20-34; discussion S35-7. doi: 10.1177/15648265080292S105. PMID: 18709879.