Folic Acid is a type of vitamin that belongs to the Vitamin B family. It is specifically called Vitamin B9.
It is responsible for protecting the unborn baby from developing various types of birth defects that affect the spine, brain, skull, and neck.
When a pregnant woman lacks folic acid in her diet, it can affect the baby's ability to produce normal cells which results to neural tube defects. This could result in babies born with cleft lip and cleft palate.
1. Folic acid has an important role in the production of the components of DNA, the chemical substances that breathe life to all cells in the body. The amount of folic acid needed by the body should be equal to the number of cells produced at any given time.
Since cell production is at its peak during pregnancy, the amount of folic acid taken by the mother should be more than enough to fuel the vigorous cell production taking place in her body during that delicate stage in her baby's development.
Since cell production is at its peak during pregnancy, the amount of folic acid taken by the mother should be more than enough to fuel the vigorous cell production taking place in her body during that delicate stage in her baby's development.
2. Folic acid deficiency can increase the body's homocysteine level
The increase in the amount of homocysteine can lead to abnormal function of the endothelial cells of the heart.
Homocysteine also interacts with vitamin B12 and B6 and is affected by kidney function and heredity. One way to differentiate folic acid deficiency from vitamin B12 deficiency is by using the methylmalonic acid (MMA) level test. If the MMA level is normal it is folic acid deficiency. If the MMA is high, it is vitamin B12 deficiency.
The increase in the amount of homocysteine can lead to abnormal function of the endothelial cells of the heart.
Homocysteine also interacts with vitamin B12 and B6 and is affected by kidney function and heredity. One way to differentiate folic acid deficiency from vitamin B12 deficiency is by using the methylmalonic acid (MMA) level test. If the MMA level is normal it is folic acid deficiency. If the MMA is high, it is vitamin B12 deficiency.
3. Folic acid deficiency affects the production and repair of damaged DNA which could lead to the formation of cancer cells.
The lack of folic acid in the diet can cause imbalance of DNA components, damage to the chromosomes and the defective union of uracil to DNA. The lack of folic acid can also interfere with the methylation of cytosine in the nucleic acids by decreasing the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) content in the body which can eventually lead to the activation of cancer genes.
The lack of folic acid in the diet can cause imbalance of DNA components, damage to the chromosomes and the defective union of uracil to DNA. The lack of folic acid can also interfere with the methylation of cytosine in the nucleic acids by decreasing the S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) content in the body which can eventually lead to the activation of cancer genes.
4. Folic acid deficiency affects the production of healthy red blood cells that can lead to megaloblastic anemia.
5. Folic acid deficiency can lead to glossitis, diarrhea, depression, confusion, and anemia.
Persons suffering from depression are low in both folic acid and vitamin B12.
Drinking alcohol makes folic acid deficiency worse.
Persons suffering from depression are low in both folic acid and vitamin B12.
Drinking alcohol makes folic acid deficiency worse.
Our body does not produce Folic acid ( vitamin B9) like the rest of the B vitamins thus we have to get it from our diet.
Only plants, bacteria and fungi have the capacity to produce folic acid.
However, healthy people can store from 500 to 20,000 micrograms of folic acid in the body. When these people lack folic acid in their diet, they will not show the deficiency right away.
Their folic acid stored in their body is able to compensate for the short supply of this vitamin.
Only plants, bacteria and fungi have the capacity to produce folic acid.
However, healthy people can store from 500 to 20,000 micrograms of folic acid in the body. When these people lack folic acid in their diet, they will not show the deficiency right away.
Their folic acid stored in their body is able to compensate for the short supply of this vitamin.
