Folic acid
Folic acid is one of the B vitamins dissolved in water, and was previously called vitamin B9, and works in its miniature form as a quadriplegic acid for monoclonal compounds produced during metabolism, and interfere in the composition of carbon compounds, was discovered after the study of anemia that affects women Poor pregnant Indians, folic acid is acidic in dietary supplements only, while folate is found in dietary sources.
Benefits of folic acid
- Folic acid plays an important role in the regeneration of cells, and this role is clearly shown in the cells of the digestive system, because it is the fastest cell in regeneration, thus folate plays an important role in maintaining the health of the cells of the digestive system.
- The role of folic acid in the natural division of cells makes it important, especially in fetal development, and studies have found that eating folic acid in the month of pre-fertilization, and in the first three months of pregnancy reduces the congenital malformations in the fetus, By half.
- The brain and spinal cord are formed from the neural tube, and abnormalities can cause abnormalities in the central nervous system, and in some cases may lead to death. All women of reproductive age, who may be pregnant, are advised to take at least 400 micrograms of folate daily, if the diet contains five servings of fruits and vegetables daily, but many women do not eat enough to cover their needs. On the need for folate from food support is a good solution, especially that the absorption rate is higher artificially, and to prevent the shortage of folate many countries support the wheat flour used in bread with folate, in addition to some other nutrients.
- Folic acid plays an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, as folic acid deficiency causes an increase in homocysteine in the blood, which increases the severity of atherosclerosis and its negative effect on the arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease, arteries and stroke.
- High homocysteine increases the loss of minerals from the bones, increasing the risk of fractures.
- Folic acid is protected from certain cancers in people most at risk of cancer, such as prevention of pancreatic cancer for men who smoke, and prevention of breast cancer for women who drink alcohol.
Daily needs of folic acid by age group
The following table will address the daily needs of folic acid for people, depending on their age group:
Age group | Daily needs (microgram / day) |
---|---|
Infants 0-6 months | 65 |
Infants 7-12 months | 80 |
Children 1-3 years | 150 |
Children 4-8 years | 200 |
9-13 years | 300 |
14 years and above | 400 |
Pregnant | 600 |
Lactation | 500 |
Folic acid functions in the body
Folic acid performs all of the following tasks:
- Tetrahydrofluoric acid associated with monocrystalline compounds acts as an adjunct to enzymes in amino acid and nucleotide formation reactions by granting or receiving monocrystalline compounds.
- It works in the formation of DNA acid and the formation of purines, thus the growth and regeneration of cells and the formation of proteins.
- A necessary requirement to convert amino acid histidine into glutamic acid.
- It also provides methyl groups to form the amino acid methionine from the homocysteine amino acid, which also needs the action of vitamin B12, which passes the methyl group of tetrahydrofluide to homocysteine.
- The lack of either folic acid or vitamin B12 in the diet leads to a rise in homocysteine in the blood. Vitamin B12 deficiency causes a secondary folic acid deficiency because it is not possible to reconstitute folic acid from methyl tetrahydrofluide, leaving folic acid in the form of methyl folic acid Able to perform his duties.
- Folic acid works to produce red and white blood cells in the bone marrow, and acts as a carrier of monocrystalline compounds in the process of making hemoglobin (which gives blood red).
- Folic acid works to produce red and white blood cells in the bone marrow, and acts as a carrier of monocrystalline compounds in the process of making hemoglobin (which gives blood red).
Folic acid absorption
Folic acid absorption depends on its source. 50% of the folate found naturally in the plant food, while its absorption is 85% of the food supported.
Food sources of folic acid
Cabbage, green leafy vegetables, especially spinach, asparagus, broccoli, and dry legumes; lentils are rich in folate, and folic acid fortified cereals are a good source. Whole wheat bread and potatoes are a good source. But folic acid is sensitive to heat and oxygen, so about 50% to 90% of it is lost during storage and cooking.
Symptoms Of Folic Acid Deficiency
Folic acid deficiency affects the synthesis of DNA and RNA, thus reducing protein synthesis and cell division. This clearly affects fast-dividing and dividing cells, such as red blood cells, white blood cells, epithelial cells in the gastrointestinal tract, vagina, cervix, So the symptoms of folic acid deficiency include:
- Hereditary anemia and large pellets containing high amounts of hemoglobin.
- Damage to the cells of the digestive system, which leads to poor absorption of nutrients.
- General weakness.
- Depression.
- Neuropathy.
Folic acid deficiency
Folic acid deficiency gets in the body because of everything that comes:
- Folic acid deficiency is due to lack of intake. There is a shortage of children breastfed with goat milk, which is low in folate, and malabsorption can cause folate deficiency.
- The high body needs him as in the cases of rapid division of cells such as pregnancy twins or triplets, and in cancer, and in diseases that cause damage in the skin such as chickenpox, measles, and burns.
- Loss of blood and damage to the digestive system, and Folic acid is the most active vitamins with drugs, which may lead to a secondary deficiency. * Some drugs, such as cancer drugs that carry a similar form of folate, occupy their place in enzymes and contradict their work. Cancer cells, like normal folate cells, need to divide. Unfortunately, this type of cancer affects normal cells and affects cancer cells. Secondary in folate.
- Aspirin can affect the state of folate in the body, which is important only to those who eat it regularly and regularly.
- Contraceptive pills and smoking affect the condition of folate in the body.
- Folate needs a acidic medium to absorb it, and any condition that reduces the acidity of the stomach reduces its absorption, and can lead to its deficiency, such as: little secretion of hydrochloric acid that gets older, and the use of antacids on a continuous basis.
Folic acid toxicity
The maximum daily intake of folic acid is 1000 micrograms. In general, folic acid naturally occurring in foods does not pose a toxic risk, but high intake of fortified foods and supplements may raise it to harmful levels, In cases of vitamin B12 deficiency, high levels of folic acid prevent the appearance of large-scale hyperbrombotic anemia, the first indicator of vitamin B12 deficiency. This is a risk because vitamin B12 deficiency causes nerve damage, may reach irreversible stages if treatment is delayed, and high folate levels hide the vitamin B12 deficiency, causing an undetectable increase in neuropathy.