FOLIC ACID
Folic acid also
known as folate are forms of a water soluble B vitamin which occurs naturally
in food and are essential for cell growth and reproduction. Since 1998, folic
acid has been added to cold cereals, flour,breads,pasta,bakery items,cookies
and crackers, as required by federal law.
Foods that are
naturally high in folate include Leafy vegetables (such as spinach, broccoli,
and lettuce), okra,asparagus, fruits (such as bananas,melons,and
lemons),beans,yeast,mushrooms, meat(such as beef liver and kidney),orange juice
and tomato juice. Woman who are pregnant or might become pregnant take folic
acid to prevent miscarriage and "neural tube defects"i.e a birth
defects that occur due to folate deficiency such as spina bifida, when the
fetal spine and back do not close during development.
THE SIGNS AND
SYMPTOMS OF FOLIC ACID DEFICIENCY
1. Feeling weak
2. Weight loss
3.loss of appetite
4. Fatigue
5.Memory loss
USES AND EFFECTIVENESS OF FOLIC ACID
1. Folic acid is used for preventing and treating low blood
levels of folate(folate deficiency).
2. Folic acid lower homocysteine levels in people with
serious kidney disease because high level of homocysteine result to heart
disease and stroke.
3. Folic acid seems to reduce nausea and vomiting, which are
possible side effects of melthotrexate treatment i.e birth defects of the brain
and spine neutral tube birth defects).
4. Folic acid during pregnancy reduces the risk of neural
tube birth defects. It is recommended that pregnancy women get 600-800mcg of
folic acid per day from their diet or supplement starting 1 months before
pregnancy and during pregnancy. Pregnant woman with a history of neral tube
birth defects are advised to get 4000mcg of folic acid per day.
5. Taking folic acid with other vitamins B12 reduces the
risk of an eye diseases that leads to vision loss in older adults.( Age-
related muscular degeneration or AMD).
6. Folic acid along with antidepressants seems to improve
symptoms in people with depression.
7. Taking folic acid daily for at least 6weeks reduces blood
pressure in people with high blood pressure but taking folic acid with blood
pressure medication does not seem to lower blood pressure more than taking only
blood pressure medicine.
8. Applying folic acid to the gums seems to prevent gum
problems caused by phenytoin.
9. Folic acid reduces the risk of stroke.
POSSIBLY INEFFECTIVE FOR LOW LEVELS OF HEALTHY RED BLOOD
CELLS (ANEMIA) DUE TO IRON DEFICIENCY.
1.IRON SUPPLEMENTS:
Taking folic acid with iron supplements is not more effective than
taking the iron supplement s without folic acid for treating and preventing
iron deficiency and anemia caused by too little iron in the body.
2. CATARACTS: Taking folic acid with other vitamins
including vitamin B6 and vitamins B12 does not prevent cataracts. In fact, it
might increase the chance of needing to have cataracts removed.
3. DECLINE IN MEMORY AND THINKING: Taking folic acid
does not prevent decline in memory and thinking skills in the elderly.
4.BREAST CANCER: Taking folic acid in the diet might
lower the risk of developing breast cancer in woman who also eat high amounts
of methionine, vitamins B12(cyanocobalamin), or vitamin B6( pyridoxine).
5.HEART DISEASE: Taking folic acid alone or with
other B vitamins does not reduce the risk of death or heart diseases related
events in people with heart diseases.
6.CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME: Daily injections of folic
acid appear to have no effect on symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome.
7.DEATH OF AN UNBORN OR PREMATURE BABY: Taking folic
acid during pregnancy does not seem to reduce the risk of having a baby die
just before or after birth.
8. WEAK AND BRITTLE BONES(OSTEOPOROSIS): Taking folic
acid with vitamins B12 and possibly vitamins B6(pyridoxine) does not seem to
prevent broken bones especially in adults with osteoporosis.
9. CANCER OF THE WHITE BLOOD CELLS (LEUKEMIA): Taking
folic acid during pregnancy does not reduce the risk of childhood cancer of the
white blood cells.
10. PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE IN ELDERLY ADULTS: Taking
folic acid with vitamin B12 doesn't seem to help older people walk better or
have stronger hands.
11. TOXICITY FROM THE DRUG LOMETREXOL: Taking folic
acid by mouth does not seem to reduce the harmful effects of the drug
lometrexol.
12. INFECTION OF THE AIRWAYS: Taking a specific
nutritional supplement with added folic acid and possibly vitamins B12 does not
seem to prevent infection in the lungs in children at risk of malnutrition.
"Give your baby the best chance to live by being
healthy through good nature." Even if you are planning to get pregnant,
you should take folic acid now to prevent your future children from birth
defects. Failure to implement folic acid fortification, it leads avoidance
termination of pregnancy, still births, neonatal deaths and permanent serious
disability in surviving children.
Article by: Tijani Opeyemi Lydia
Food, Nutrients & Health
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