Health

Did you know that without folic acid, the human body would not be able to function?

Folic acid plays a vital role in every human body. Without it, our body would not be able to absorb oxygen or heal after various injuries. Also, folic acid contributes to fetal formation processes during pregnancy.

So, without folic acid, we simply couldn’t live.

Folic acid is a chemical synthesized from vitamin B9. Although they can be absorbed with certain foods, researchers point out that folic acid is best absorbed through dietary supplements.

Why is folic acid important to the body?

Folic acid contributes to various processes in the body. For example, folic acid is important for the production of red blood cells. This component of the blood allows oxygen to be transferred from the lungs to all organs and cells. Lack of red blood cells can lead to anemia, which causes weakness, fatigue, scaly skin and can progress to more serious problems in the body.

Folic acid is also important for the production of DNA throughout the body. Without the right DNA, all the cells in the body would not be able to multiply or recover after damage. For example, without folic acid, our constantly regenerating skin would no longer be able to function, new cells would not be able to replace old ones, and constant skin regeneration would simply stop.

Also, folic acid is essential for a healthy pregnancy. The effect of this acid on healthy DNA production contributes to the formation and growth of each fetal cell throughout the 9 months. Thus, this acid can significantly reduce the chances of preterm birth and ensure the healthy development of the fetus.

Folic acid can also help those who have certain disorders of the body.

Depression

Folic acid deficiency can contribute to depression. Also, dietary supplements with folic acid can increase the effectiveness of depression medications.

Autism

Some research has found that folic acid consumption during pregnancy reduces a child's chances of autism. The number of researches in this area is rather limited, so these claims are not fully confirmed.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Folic acid preparations may be useful for those treating rheumatoid arthritis. Medications for this disease (more specifically, methotrexate) can significantly reduce the amount of folic acid in the body. As a result of these side effects, patients may experience impaired gastrointestinal function. According to research, folic acid can reduce these negative effects of rheumatoid arthritis treatment by 79 percent.

Who should take folic acid supplements?

Most people absorb enough folic acid with food.

However, the need for folic acid increases significantly during pregnancy. Thus, folic acid supplements are often recommended for pregnant women or women who are planning to become pregnant.

Folic acid supplements can also be beneficial for intense athletes as they can improve oxygen circulation in the body during sports. This advantage is related to the importance of folic acid for the activity of red blood cells.

The recommended dose of folic acid

The American Institute of Women’s Health recommends consuming 400 to 800 micrograms of folic acid a day if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant soon. The recommended dose of folic acid during breast-feeding is 500 micrograms per day.

According to researchers, folic acid is better absorbed from food supplements than from natural foods, where the concentration of this acid is significantly lower.

It is important to stress that folic acid can have a negative effect on the performance of certain medications. So be sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking dietary supplements with this acid.

Natural sources of folic acid

As mentioned earlier, folate (or folic acid) is found in certain foods:

· Beef liver

· In heat-treated spinach

· In red or white beans

· In asparagus

· Brussels sprouts

· Salotose

· In avocados

· In broccoli

· In mustard seeds

· In peas

· In tomato juice

· In orange juice

· In peanuts

· In fresh oranges and grapefruits

· Bananas

· Hard in boiled eggs

· In bread

· In flour

· In various grains

Prepared based on information online

prepared by Aušrinė Vaičiūtė

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/about.html

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1017/folic-acid

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/folic-acid/

#foline acid, #folioic acid

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