Benefits of Folic Acid

Introduction:Anencephaly (brain problem) and up to 70% of these
Folic acid, a water soluble B vitamin, occurs naturally inNTD s can be prevented by taking enough folic acid
food and can also be taken as food supplements.every day before conception and during pregnancy.
Naturally occurring sources of folic acid includes greenA woman is likely to be at higher risk to deliver a
leaf vegetables (spinach, turnip), poultry, pork,NTD s affected baby if she has a previous NTD s
shellfish, peas beans, liver, cereal and citrus furies.affected pregnancy, is diabetic, takes medicine to
Folic acid is one of the necessary elements requiredtreat epilepsy and is of Hispanic ethnicity.
for production and maintenance of human cell.Every woman, who is likely to become pregnant,
Folic acid deficiency and diseases:should take 400 micro grams of folic acid every day.
Folic acid deficiency may cause various disorders.Consuming supplemental folic acid in addition to a
Some of these are highlighted below.o Folic acidhealthy folic acid rich diet before and during
deficiency may cause weakness, poor growth,pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of having
graying hair, inflammation of the tongue, palpitationsneural tube defects in babies.
and behavioral disorder.o Folic acid deficiency is alsoSpina Bifida and Anencephaly disorders: Spina bifida is
associated with common stomach disorders includinga spine disorder and part of spine at the lower end is
diarrhea, mouth ulcer and peptic ulcer, loss ofdamaged and a sack of fluid is entrapped in the
appetite and weight loss.o Folic acid deficiency inbaby's back. Most children born with this spinal
pregnant women may cause premature delivery, lowdisorder survives full life and often has lifelong
birth weight of infants and infants with neural tubesymptoms including unable to move lower part of the
defects (NTD s).o Anemia is sometimes associatedbody, loss of bowl and bladder and fluid pressure to
with the advance stage of folic acid deficiency.o Youthe brain.
may need increased folic acid intake if you areAnencephaly is a brain disorder and part of the brain
anemic, have kidney or liver disease, pregnant orskull bones may not form in babies. Most of the
breast-feeding. In all such cases you should consultbabies having this defects die before or just after
your doctor before taking folic acid supplements.obirth.
The maximum folic acid intake should be limited toRole of folic acid and heart disease:
1000 micro grams per day or as directed by theLow concentration of folic acid may increase the
health care provider.o Some other medications mayamino acid homocysteine in the blood levels and
interact with folic acid includes medicines for epilepsy,consequently increases the risk of heart disease. High
medicines for controlling blood sugar, methotrexatelevel of homocysteine may damage the coronary
(medicines for treating cancer) and diuretics. If youarteries or can cause the blood clots, however there
are taking any of these medicines, you shouldis no evidence that supplemented folic acid will reduce
contact your doctor.o If you are 50 years of age,the risk of heart disease.
you should carry out your vitamin B 12 level beforeRole of folic acid and cancer:
taking supplemental diet of folic acid, as these areFolic acid is one of the essential elements involved in
chances of interaction between B12 vitamins and folicthe synthesis of DNA and its deficiency may cause
acid.defects in DNA and consequently may lead to cancer.
Folic acid benefits:There are enough evidence to conclude that the
Role of folic acid during pregnancy:deficiency of folic acid is associated with the
Neural tube defects (NTD s) is a major defect ofincreased risk of breast, colon and pancreatic cancer,
brain and spine in babies causing damage to the brainhowever it is not advisable to supplement folic acid
or spine. The major NTD s include spina bifida ( spinefor reducing the risk of such cancers.
problem) and