What happens if you do not get enough folic acid?

When a person does not get enough folic acid, they can suffer from fatigue, poor growth and a swollen tongue, according to the National Institutes of Health. It can also cause mouth sores and anemia.

Folic acid works with other vitamins to help the body make new cells, as stated by WebMD. People can suffer from low levels of folic acid when they do not get enough foods rich in it. Drinking too much alcohol and Crohn's Disease can also cause low folic acid. To combat the problem, people should eat foods such as beans, dark leafy green vegetables and legumes.