A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of FOLIC ACID in the diet. Many plant and animal tissues contain folic acid, abundant in green leafy vegetables, yeast, liver, and mushrooms but destroyed by long-term cooking. Alcohol interferes with its intermediate metabolism and absorption. Folic acid deficiency may develop in long-term anticonvulsant therapy or with use of oral contraceptives. This deficiency causes anemia, macrocytic anemia, and megaloblastic anemia. It is indistinguishable from vitamin B 12 deficiency in peripheral blood and bone marrow findings, but the neurologic lesions seen in B 12 deficiency do not occur. (Merck Manual, 16th ed). The phenotype is Experimental Factor Ontology identifier EFO_0001070 (folate deficiency). Also known as: Acid Deficiencies, Folic, Acid Deficiency, Folic, DEFIC FOLIC ACID, Deficiencies, Folic Acid, Deficiency of folic acid, Deficiency, Folic Acid, FOLIC ACID DEFIC, Folic Acid Deficiencies.