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[B2]B12 & Folic Acid

by Vincent Platania, Vin

Folic acid is water soluble and found in beans, peas, green leafy veggies, meats and some fruits. You can also get folic acid or folate in fortied cereals.

Folic acid is needed in the body for DNA synthesis thus allowing cells to replicate normally. Also folic acid is needed for the body to make something called SAMe or S-adenosyl-L-methionine a coenzyme which contributes to your mood. Folic acid keeps the levels of homocysteine in your blood from rising. Homocysteine is a molecule that can raise your risk of developing heart disease, Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis and strokes.

Folic acid is commonly suggested for women who are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant because it can prevent birth defects of various kinds including neural tube defects, limb defects, and cleft palate, or cleft lips.

Its so well thought of in the medical industry for decreasing risks of birth defects that there is discussion in Britain of requiring the fortification of foods with the vitamin.

Its been found that many people with heart disease hin the united states has elevated levels of homocysteine in their blood. Doctors note that these people can control this by simply taking a folic acid supplement. It also seems to show that most people in the united states has a mild folic acid deficiency.

Symptoms of a folic acid deficiency are diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness, headaches, heart palpitations, crankiness, and mild behavior conditions. Women who have a folic acid deficiency when they are pregnant can have low birth weight babies, and even preemies in addition to the increased risk for birth defects.

There can be many reasons for folic acid deficiency. There may be poor diet resulting in malabsorption, alcoholism, having a disease of the intestinal tract, or a liver disease and anemia. Also folic acid deficiency can develop from taking certain medications. As always it’s a good idea to talk with your doctor about the symptoms and side effects of any medication you are going to take. Interestingly folic acid has been known to mask the symptoms of vitamin B12. A deficiency of this vitamin can cause anemia, which folic acid is able to fix. Folic acid is not a stand in for B12 though and will not correct other problems that develop as a result of B12 deficiency.

The recommended daily allowance for folic acid is four hundred micrograms. If you are pregnant or could become pregnant you should take between six hundred to eight hundred mcg. If you are lactating you may take up to one thousand mcg of folic acid. Do consult with your doctor about the proper dosage of folic acid to take.

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Ever since it was first extracted from common spinach leaf folic acid has been found to have an increasing number of uses. Originally folic acid was discovered to help correct the anemia women sometimes developed during pregnancy and later it was used to help correct anemia from other causes including a deficiency in other vitamins. Although it wasn't a replacement for these other vitamins it certainly was found to be very effective at treating anemia due to all kinds of causes.

Folic acid is involved in the replication of our DNA and RNA and it was quickly found that those taking folic acid for anemia had less chance of giving birth to babies with certain birth defects. These defects are Spina Bifida and other neural tube defects, cleft lip and palate and limb defects. In fact folic acid is so effective at its job in maintaining DNA that doctors estimate half of the nearly four thousand babies born with neural tube defects yearly develop the defects due to a folic acid deficiency. Imagine being able to cut that number in half just by making sure that women have enough folic acid in their diets.

More recently there was a connection found between folic acid, homocysteine and certain diseases. Homocysteine is a by-product of the metabolizing of protein that we take in in our food. More specifically it is released when the body breaks down methionine, which is an amino acid and a component of protein.

Homocysteine is toxic to the lining of our blood vessels and though its a part of the breakdown process of protein, normally we have enough folic acid present in our systems to help convert homocysteine into another compound. Those who have a deficiency of folic acid can also develop a high level of homocysteine over long periods of time.

So by taking folic acid or making sure it is in the diet it is possible to help prevent a build up of homocysteine in the blood. The damage to the blood vessel walls caused by homocysteine leads to arteriosclerosis or a stiffening of the walls.

Arteriosclerosis can lead to other cardiovascular diseases by making the heart pump harder, and keeping parts of the body from getting enough blood and oxygen. This also leads to an increased risk of heart attack.

Also there have recently been links made between high levels of homocysteine and Cancer, Arthritis, and Osteoporosis. Currently there are studies being made to try and determine whether homocysteine is one of the causes of these conditions or if it is simply an indicator or symptom of these conditions.

So you can use folic acid to help prevent:

?Anemia
?Certain Birth Defects
?Cardiovascular disease
?And possibly some forms of dementia (including Alzheimers),
?Cancer,
?Arthritis,
?And Osteoporosis.

The recommended daily intake for folic acid is currently four hundred micrograms. A woman who is pregnant, could become pregnant or is lactating should take between six hundred and eight hundred micrograms of folic acid daily.
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Both Vincent Platania & Hari are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Vincent Platania has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acne Treatment, Family Concerns and Home Management. Author Vincent Platania represents the Stanley Home Products. Stanley Home Products has been in business since 1936, and offers high quality home and personal care products to keep your home and your body clean. Visit. Vincent Platania's top article generates over 33100 views. to your Favourites.

Hari has sinced written about articles on various topics from Advertising Guide, Home Improvement and Trucks. Author Vincent Platania represents the Stanley Home Products. Stanley Home Products has been in business since 1936, and offers high quality home and personal care products to keep your home and your body clean. Visit. Hari's top article generates over 40500 views. to your Favourites.