Folic acid--what's it all about?Folic acid folic acid: see coenzyme; vitamin. folic acid or folate Organic compound essential to animal growth and health and needed by bacteria as a growth factor. is a B vitamin. The body uses folic acid to help make red blood cells Red blood cells Cells that carry hemoglobin (the molecule that transports oxygen) and help remove wastes from tissues throughout the body. Mentioned in: Bone Marrow Transplantation red blood cells and other new cells. The folic acid found naturally in food is sometimes called "folate folate /fo·late/ (fo´lat) 1. the anionic form of folic acid. 2. more generally, any of a group of substances containing a form of pteroic acid conjugated with l-glutamic acid and having a variety of substitutions. ." People who do not get enough folic acid in their diet can get anemia--their blood does not carry oxygen well, and they feel very tired and weak. Children who do not get enough folic acid may grow poorly. Not having enough folic acid can also increase the risk of heart disease, colon cancer colon cancer, cancer of any part of the colon (often called the large intestine). Colon cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. , and stroke. Getting enough folic acid is really important in pregnancy. Taking folic acid from the very beginning of pregnancy can help prevent neural tube defects Neural tube defects A group of birth defects that affect the backbone and sometimes the spinal chord. Mentioned in: Birth Defects . Neural tube defects are problems of the spine and brain, such as spina bifida. Severe neural tube defects can cause death or paralysis. Most people need to have about 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid in their diet every day. (Pregnant women need 600 mcg a day.) You should take 400 mcg of extra folic acid every day if you: * Are pregnant. * Could become pregnant. This is because neural tube defects occur in the very first month of pregnancy, when most women don't even know they are pregnant. * If you are pregnant, or could become pregnant, you need more folic acid than you can normally get from your diet. You will probably need to take a vitamin pill that adds folic acid to your diet. It is not a good idea to take more that 1,000 mcg of extra folic acid. Too much folic acid can be dangerous for your health. Other people who may need to take some extra folic acid are: * Smokers * People who take a lot of aspirin or antacids Antacids Definition Antacids are medicines that neutralize stomach acid. Purpose Antacids are used to relieve acid indigestion, upset stomach, sour stomach, and heartburn. * People who take certain drugs for cancer treatment and for arthritis Talk with your health care provider about folic acid. She can help you decide if you need some extra folic acid in your diet and how much you should take. The word folate comes from the same root as the word "foliage," so leafy green vegetables are very good sources of folic acid. Folic acid is also found in cooked, dry beans, nuts, and seeds. Enriched grains, such as bread, pasta, and rice, and fortified fortified (fôrt  ´fīd),adj containing additives more potent than the principal ingredient. breakfast cereals, are also good sources of folic acid. Check food labels to be sure that these foods have been enriched with folic acid. --Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, October, 2003 |
|
||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion