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Whats Folic acid?

Folic acid is a B vitamin. It helps the body make healthy new cells. Everyone needs folic acid. For women who may get pregnant, it is really important. When a woman has enough folic acid in her body before and during pregnancy, it can prevent major birth defects of her baby's brain or spine. Foods with folic acid in them include leafy green vegetables, fruits, dried beans, peas and nuts. Enriched breads, cereals and other grain products also contain folic acid. If you don't get enough folic acid from the foods you eat, you can also take it as a dietary supplement. Folic acid is one of the most chemically complicated vitamins, with a three-part structure that puts special demands on the body's metabolism. The three primary components of folic acid are called PABA, glutamic acid, and pteridine. (Two of these components, glutamic acid and pteridine, help explain the technical chemical name for folate, namely pteroylmonoglutamate.) 1. Functions of folic acid Folic acid, along with vitamin B12, is important for formation of red blood cells. Lack of these two vital nutrients leads to variety of anemia called macrocytic anemia. This means the red blood cells appear bloated and large and have a reduced capacity to carry oxygen. Folate along with other B vitamins are also vital for nerve function. Folate is essential for the formation of DNA (genetic material) within every body cell. This allows normal replication of cells. Biochemically folates act as chemicals that medicate one-carbon transfer reactions. These are important for formation of purines and pyrimidines. These purines and pyrimidines form basic building blocks for DNA. 2. Folate requirements Most of the required folate in men and non-pregnant women are obtained from a healthy and well-balanced diet. Pregnant and breast feeding women and children during their growing years require folate in their diet. In pregnant women, for example, lack of folate in diet can lead to severe nerve defects like neural tube defects, spina bifida, anencephaly etc. in their unborn children. 3. Folate deficiency Folate deficiency may lead to glossitis, diarrhea, depression, confusion, anemia, and fetal neural

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tube defects and brain defects (during pregnancy). Folate deficiency is accelerated by alcohol consumption.Folate deficiency is diagnosed by analyzing CBC and plasma vitamin B12 and folate levels. CBC may indicate megaloblastic anemia but this could also be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency. A serum folate of 3 g/L or lower indicates deficiency. Serum folate level reflects folate status but erythrocyte folate level better reflects tissue stores after intake. An erythrocyte folate level of 140 g/L or lower indicates inadequate folate status. Increased homocysteine level suggests tissue folate deficiency but homocysteine is also affected by vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, renal function, and genetics. One way to differentiate between folate deficiency from vitamin B12 deficiency is by testing for methylmalonic acid levels. Normal MMA levels indicate folate deficiency and elevated MMA levels indicate vitamin B12 deficiency. Folate deficiency is treated with supplemental oral folate of 400 to 1000 g per day. This treatment is very successful in replenishing tissues, even if deficiency was caused by malabsorption. Patients with megaloblastic anemia need to be tested for vitamin B12 deficiency before folate treatment, because if the patient has vitamin B12 deficiency, folate supplementation can remove the anemia, but can also worsen neurologic problems. Morbidly obese patients with BMIs of greater than 50 are more likely to develop folate deficiency. Patients with celiac disease have a higher chance of developing folate deficiency. Cobalamin deficiency may lead to folate deficiency, which, in turn, increases homocysteine levels and may result in the development of cardiovascular disease or birth defects. 4. What are current public health recommendations for folate? The Recommended Dietary Allowances for folic acid, set in 1998 by the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences, are as follows: 0-6 months: 65 micrograms 6-12 months: 80 micrograms 1-3 years: 150 micrograms 4-8 years: 200 micrograms Males 9-13 years: 300 micrograms Males 14 years and older: 400 micrograms Females 9-13 years: 300 micrograms Females 14 years and older: 400 micrograms Pregnant females of any age: 600 micrograms Lactating females of any age: 500 micrograms