Not all vitamins can be produced by the human body itself, so many of them people get with food. Most vital processes in the body require folic acid. Vitamin B9 is responsible for cell growth and maintaining the integrity of deoxyribonucleic acid.
Failure of these processes leads to the development of various neoplasms, so folic acid to a certain extent prevents the occurrence of tumors. In addition, it is needed for the proper functioning of the body's defenses, the functioning of the cardiovascular system, and the formation of amino acids.
Vitamin B9 has a positive effect on the functioning of the central nervous system, which means that mood and performance depend on it. And, finally, folic acid is necessary for the hematopoietic system - and it is necessary so much that its deficiency can provoke anemia. Which is better: folate or folic acid? Find out in the following sections.
Folic acid and folate
Theseconcepts are usually interchangeable. The only difference between them is that folate refers to a natural component, otherwise it is called vitamin B9.
Folic acid is considered a chemical that does not occur in plant form, but it is also referred to as vitamin B9.
Both of these components affect the body in almost the same way, with the only difference being that the chemical form is absorbed much more easily in the intestines than folate. And this is extremely unusual, since, as a rule, synthetic forms of nutrients are absorbed much more slowly than natural ones.
The benefits of vitamin B9 for the body
Like other B vitamins, this component is necessary for a large number of biological functions, it plays a huge role in the protection of deoxyribonucleic acid, restoration and synthesis, and is also considered essential in the process of cell division and cell growth. Folates are trace elements derived from folic acid, or vitamin B9.
Because DNA plays an important role in cell division, women in "position" should make sure that they get enough of this substance.
Vitamin B9 deficiency is becoming the most common cause of congenital diseases. One of these disorders is a spinal fissure, which leads to pathologies in the development of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.
All instantly growing cells in the body have an increased need for folate. This refers to the production of malesemen, as well as red blood cells, the growth of the nail plate and hair.
What is vitamin B9 for?
Folic acid is needed by the body for:
- Obtaining offspring, as well as for the normal development of the unborn child.
- Protein, fat and carbohydrate metabolism.
- Normal functioning of the central nervous system.
- The formation of DNA and RNA, which is necessary for the process of growth and development of body cells.
- Formation of leukocytes and erythrocytes.
- Proper brain function for mental and emotional he alth.
- Reducing the concentration of cholesterol in the blood and improving the efficiency of the functioning of the liver.
During pregnancy and lactation, the need for folic acid increases to five hundred micrograms per day.
If a woman in "position" does not get enough folate (vitamin B9), then the unborn child may experience palatal disorders, hernia, brain damage, babies may be born prematurely or have low birth weight. And also the development of the child may be slowed down, and the ability to learn will be reduced.
Since many pregnancies, especially in adolescents, are not considered planned, every girl of reproductive age needs to get four hundred micrograms of folic acid per day from food, because the foundations of the baby's central nervous system are laid already in the first days of fetal formation, when a woman may not yet be aware of his "position".
Products withhigh in vitamin B9
Greens or legumes are considered foods high in folate. Spinach contains one of the highest concentrations of vitamin B9: one hundred grams of the product contains 40% of the rational daily value. Therefore, medical experts, as a rule, advise women in an "interesting position" to include more greens in the diet. Why do women need folic acid during pregnancy?
They need it in large doses, so folate-fortified foods alone are indispensable. During pregnancy, vitamin B9 is consumed extremely quickly in the body, which can lead to a lack of this component, therefore, in order to avoid further problems, a woman who carries a baby should take folic acid preparations.
The dosage should be sufficient for both the woman and her unborn baby. In another case, the fetus may experience various pathologies, which, as a rule, leads to premature birth.
What foods contain folate? Rich in Vitamin B9:
- spinach;
- legumes;
- soy;
- peanuts;
- asparagus;
- cocoa;
- almonds;
- fuck;
- buckwheat porridge;
- mushrooms;
- rice;
- apricots.
Deficit
In addition to spinal fissure, folic acid deficiency can cause anemia, diarrhea and vomiting. And also the lack of this substance affects the normal functioning of the brain, this can manifest itself in the form of depressivedisorders or anxiety.
Folate deficiency is rare among people in general, but common among women in the "interesting position". This is due to the fact that their body requires vitamin B9 in large doses.
Folic acid has a very difficult relationship with cobalamin - a deficiency of one can "mask" signs of a deficiency in the other, which is why patients who are deficient in folate may not feel it for a long time.
There is also concern that folic acid may help the growth of pre-existing cancer. This is because carcinomas grow: the more folate a person consumes, the faster their tumor grows.
Symptoms of vitamin B9 deficiency appear quite quickly - from about five to thirty days after a decrease in its concentration in the blood. The first symptoms of a folic acid deficiency are fatigue, loss of appetite, and irritability.
Signs are non-specific, so most people don't pay attention to them. But in vain, because the lack of vitamin B9 is considered one of the most widely known types of beriberi.
If measures are not taken and this substance is not replenished, then after three to four months, anemia may occur, in which the symptoms will intensify.
Too much folic acid
Folic acid poisoning is unlikely as the substance is water soluble and is excreted in the urine. The only negative side effect of consuming large amounts of folate would bethought to mask a cobalamin deficiency that can lead to nerve damage.
The content of vitamin B9 in the body can be determined very accurately by donating blood for analysis. Standard rates range from 7 to 45 nanomoles per liter. These are, as a rule, microscopic dosages, but even their small increase or decrease leads to very negative consequences.
To achieve an excessively high concentration of folic acid is very difficult. It is a water soluble vitamin and any excess is usually excreted quickly in the urine without causing harm.
Problems may appear in severe diseases of the liver and kidneys. An excess of vitamin B9 threatens during pregnancy with a strong increase in the weight of the fetus. It also increases the likelihood of obesity and diabetes in the baby.
Elevated folic acid leads to the following conditions:
- Asthma.
- Prone to allergies.
- Irritable.
- Insomnia.
In men - a certain increase in the substance leads to the appearance of neoplasms of the prostate gland.
How is folate different from folic acid?
It is worth understanding how these substances differ. Folate and folic acid are chemically similar, the only difference being that the former is a plant form and the latter a chemical one, both of which are known as vitamin B9.
In the body, they behave identically, but the chemical form is easier to digest. Folic acid is responsible for a number of complex functions inin the human body, it is particularly important in the storage of deoxyribonucleic acid, making it an important part for cell growth. It is most commonly found in greens and is especially needed for pregnant women.
Folate (vitamin B9) poisoning is unlikely, but can mimic a lack of cobalamin, and this acid can also accelerate the growth and development of existing cancer cells. But, as you know, the use of folic acid does not increase the likelihood of developing malignant neoplasms.
Daily Value of Vitamin B9
To maintain the standard concentration of folic acid in the blood, you need to take it every day. Infants up to six months need to receive sixty-five mcg of the acid substance per day, from six months to a year - eighty mcg, from one to three years - one hundred and fifty micrograms, from three years to adulthood - two hundred mcg.
How much and why do women need folic acid? The average daily dosage of vitamin B9 for adult patients is four hundred micrograms per day, and women in the "position" need a little more - up to six hundred micrograms.
The need for folic acid increases during recovery from injuries and surgical procedures, during physical exertion, and people of retirement age also need it.
Contraindications
Folic acid is not allowed under the following conditions:
- Hemosiderosis.
- Hemochromatosis (impaired iron metabolism).
- Lackcobalamin.
- Pernicious anemia (malabsorption of vitamin B12).
- Increased sensitivity to drug substances.
- In childhood.
- Malignant tumors.
Pills containing folic acid
If a person suffers from a deficiency of folic acid, it must be consumed additionally. There are a large number of vitamin-mineral complexes, dietary supplements and medicines with pure vitamin B9.
The simplest form of release of folate is the drug in tablets. It is suitable for situations where only a correction of the concentration of vitamin B9 in the blood is necessary, and the level of other microelements is in order. Dosing should be taken into account: highly concentrated drugs are intended for the treatment of severe forms of folic acid deficiency, they are not recommended for preventive use.
Vitamin complexes
Vitamin-mineral complexes with vitamin B9 have the main advantage - in addition to folic acid, they contain other useful components that contribute to its better absorption. For example: "Doppelgerz Folic acid + vitamins B6 + B12 + C + E", "Folic acid with vitamins B12 and B6" from Evalar, "Folic Acid", "Folio". As a rule, ascorbic acid is needed for normal absorption of vitamin B9.
Pregnancy multivitamin preparations usually contain an increased dosagefolic acid, as well as other components needed by the body of the expectant mother.
