A 40-year-old male's history includes being a vegetarian and abusing alcohol. Which of the fol-lowing factors put him at greatest risk for developing folate deficiency anemia?

a. Being vegetarian
b. Being alcoholic
c. Age
d. Gender

ANS: B
Folate deficiency occurs more often in alcoholics and individuals who are malnourished because of fad diets or diets low in vegetables. Being alcoholic promotes the greatest risk, since this dis-order is diet related. A diet high in vegetables would help prevent folate deficiency. Age is not a factor in folate deficiency. Gender is not a factor in folate deficiency.