Not all vitamins can be produced by the human body itself, so many of them are obtained by people with food. For most vital processes in the body, folic acid is needed. Vitamin B9 is responsible for cell growth and maintaining the integrity of deoxyribonucleic acid.
The failure of these processes leads to the development of various neoplasms, therefore folic acid to some extent prevents the onset of tumors. In addition, it is necessary for the proper functioning of the body's defenses, the work 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 hematopoiesis system - and it is so necessary that its deficiency can provoke anemia. Which is better: folate or folic acid? We will clarify this in the following sections.
Folic acid and folate
These concepts are generally used interchangeably. The only difference between them is that folate refers to the natural component, it is also called vitamin B9.
Folic acid is considered a chemical substance that is not found in plant form, but it is also referred to as vitamin B9.
Both of these components affect the body almost the same way, with the only difference being that the chemical form is absorbed much more easily in the intestine 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, recovery and synthesis, and is also considered mandatory in the process of cell division and its growth. Folate is a derivative of trace elements from folic acid, or vitamin B9.
Since DNA occupies an important position in cell division, for women in the "position" you should make sure that it receives a sufficient amount of this substance.
Vitamin B9 deficiency is becoming the most common cause of congenital diseases. One of these disorders is a fissure of the spine, which leads to pathologies of the development of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.
Any instantly growing cells in the body have an increased need for folate. This applies to the production of male seed, as well as red blood cells, the growth of the nail plate and hair.
What is vitamin B9 for?
Folic acid is essential for the body to:
- 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.
- The formation of white blood cells and red blood cells.
- The proper functioning of the brain is what is needed for mental and emotional health.
- Decreased blood cholesterol and increased liver function
During pregnancy and lactation, the need for folic acid rises to five hundred micrograms per day.
If a woman in the “position” does not receive enough folate (vitamin B9), then the unborn child may experience palpitations, hernia, brain damage, babies may be born prematurely or have low birth weight. As well as 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, each girl of reproductive age needs to receive four hundred micrograms of folic acid per day with products, because the foundations of the central nervous system of the baby are laid in the first days of the formation of the fetus, when the woman may still not know about his "position".
High Vitamin B9 Foods
Greens or legumes are considered foods with a lot of folate. Spinach contains one of the highest concentrations of vitamin B9: one hundred grams of the product contains 40% of the ration. Therefore, medical specialists, as a rule, advise women in an "interesting position" to include more greens in their diet. Why do women need folic acid during pregnancy?
They need it in large dosages, so products alone that are enriched in folate cannot be dispensed with. During pregnancy, vitamin B9 is consumed extremely quickly in the body, which can lead to a lack of this component, therefore, to avoid further problems, a woman who is carrying 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? Vitamin B9 is rich in:
- spinach;
- legumes;
- soybeans;
- peanut;
- asparagus;
- cocoa;
- almond;
- horseradish;
- buckwheat porridge;
- Champignon;
- rice
- apricots.
Deficit
In addition to a fissure in the spine, folic acid deficiency can cause anemia, diarrhea, and vomiting. As well as the lack of this substance affects the normal functioning of the brain, this can manifest itself in the form of depressive disorders or anxiety.
Folate deficiency is a rare occurrence among people in general, but common among women in an “interesting position.” This is due to the fact that their body needs vitamin B9 in large doses.
Folic acid has a very complex collaboration with cobalamin - a deficiency of one may “mask” the signs of a lack of another, which is why patients who have a lack of folate may not feel this for a long time.
There is also concern that folic acid may help the growth of an existing malignancy. This is because carcinomas grow: the more a person consumes folate, the faster the tumor grows.
Symptoms of vitamin B9 deficiency manifest rather quickly - from about five to thirty days after lowering its concentration in the blood. The first symptoms of folic acid deficiency are fatigue, loss of appetite, and irritability.
The signs are nonspecific, so most people do not pay attention to them. But in vain, because the lack of vitamin B9 is considered one of the most widely known types of vitamin deficiency.
If measures are not taken and replenishment of this substance is not ensured, then after three to four months anemia may occur, in which the symptoms will intensify.
An excess of folic acid
Folic acid poisoning is unlikely, since this substance is water-soluble and is excreted from the body along with urine. The only negative side effect of consuming a huge amount of folate will be considered masking cobalamin deficiency, which can lead to nerve damage.
The content of vitamin B9 in the body can be determined very accurately by passing blood for analysis. Standard values 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.
It is very difficult to achieve an excessively high concentration of folic acid. It is a water-soluble vitamin, and all excess is usually rapidly excreted in urine without harm.
Problems can occur with severe liver and kidney diseases. An excess of vitamin B9 threatens during pregnancy a strong increase in fetal weight. It also increases the likelihood of obesity and diabetes in the baby.
An increased content of folic acid leads to the following conditions:
- Asthma.
- Tendency to allergies.
- Irritability.
- 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, only the differences are that the former refers to the plant form, and the latter to the chemical form, both of these components 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 in the human body, it is especially important in maintaining deoxyribonucleic acid, which makes it an important part for cell growth. It is most often found in greenery and is especially necessary for pregnant women.
Poisoning with folate (vitamin B9) is unlikely, but can mimic a deficiency of cobalamin, and this acid can 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.
Vitamin B9 Daily Intake
To maintain a standard concentration of folic acid in the blood, you need to take it every day. Infants up to six months must receive sixty-five micrograms of an acid substance per day, from six months to a year - eighty micrograms, from one to three years - one hundred and fifty micrograms, from three years to adulthood - two hundred micrograms.
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, people of retirement age also need it.
Contraindications
Folic acid is not allowed to be taken under the following conditions:
- Hemosiderosis.
- Hemochromatosis (impaired iron metabolism).
- Cobalamin deficiency.
- Pernicious anemia (malabsorption of vitamin B12).
- Hypersensitivity to the drug.
- In childhood.
- Malignant tumors.
Folic Acid Tablets
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 folate release is the drug in tablets. It is suitable for situations where only a correction of the concentration of vitamin B9 in the blood is needed, and the level of the remaining trace elements is in order. You need to pay attention to dosing: highly concentrated drugs are intended for the treatment of severe folic acid deficiency, they are not recommended for preventive purposes.
Vitamin Complexes
Vitamin-mineral complexes with vitamin B9 have the main advantage - in addition to folic acid, they also contain other useful components that contribute to its better absorption. For example: "Doppelherz 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.
Multivitamin preparations for pregnant women usually contain an increased dosage of folic acid, as well as other components that the expectant mother's body needs.