Folic Acid

What is Folic Acid?

Folic acid (or folate) is a key vitamin in cellular function and repair. In humans, folic acid is necessary for the synthesis of nucleic acids and the formation of the pigmented, iron-carrying component of the haemoglobin in red blood cells. A deficient intake of folic acid can impair the maturation of young red blood cells, resulting in folic-acid-deficiency anaemia.

Folic acid is essential for efficient neural tube development during pregnancy which forms the brain and spinal cord. Pregnant women with an insufficient intake of folic acid are more likely to give birth prematurely or to deliver babies with low birth weight or with neural tube defects.

Women are advised to take folic acid prior to conception and to continue taking folic acid supplements until the 12th week of pregnancy. In addition, folic acid is essential for the formation of red blood cells and has been shown to reduce the levels of an amino acid. This reduction may have a protective effect against heart disease.

Folic acid may also play a role in protecting against some forms of cancer and heart disease. Decreased blood levels of folic acid are associated with an increased risk of colon cancer in women

Side Effects and Warnings of Folic Acid

The side effects can be mild or severe. Mild side effects include are nausea, loss of appetite, bloated abdomen, flatulence, bitter taste, insomnia or difficulty concentrating. Your doctor will likely reduce the amount of Folic Acid you take and monitor the results closely.

Substantial quantities of folic acid into the food stream may facilitate the transformation of benign growths into cancers, or small cancers into larger ones. If you suffer from seizures a large dose of Folic Acid will affect the effectiveness of the common medication Phenytoin, also known as Dilantin.

As with other dietary supplements, you should always seek medical advice before using folic acid supplements.

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