Folic acid is a water-soluble biologically active compound belonging to the B vitamins. It is produced artificially and is highly digestible. Participates in many vital processes, helps normalize the functioning of the nervous system and brain function. Useful for all age groups.
pharmachologic effect
The drug has a metabolic effect, acting as a biological compound. Helps compensate for the deficiency of vitamin B9 and is involved in erythropoiesis.
After internal use, it is quickly and completely adsorbed in the digestive tract.
There is almost 100% binding of the drug components to various proteins. Penetrates well into the placenta, blood cells and breast milk.
The maximum concentration of the drug is reached after 30-60 minutes. Excretion is carried out by the kidneys, also by hemodialysis.
Daily value of vitamin B9
The rate of folate intake directly depends on the age and condition of the human body. Table 1 shows the required daily intake.
| Age and characteristics of the body | Daily dosage | |
| children under 18 years old | ||
| newborns and infants up to 6 months | 20-25 mcg | |
| babies 6-12 months | 30-35 mcg | |
| children 1-3 years old | 40-50 mcg | |
| children 4-6 years old | 70-80 mcg | |
| children 7-10 | 0.1 mg | |
| children 11-15 years old | 0.15 mg | |
| teenagers | 0.2-0.25 mg | |
| planning, pregnancy and breastfeeding | |
| preparation for pregnancy in women | 1 mg |
| 1st trimester of pregnancy | 0.8 mg |
| 2-3 trimester of pregnancy | 0.6 mg |
| lactation | 0.5-0.7 mg |
| preparation for conception in men | 0.5 mg |
| other groups of persons | |
| strengthening the immune system | 0.2 mg |
| established vitamin deficiency | 0.5-1 mg |
| sports | 0.5-1 mg |
| menopause in women | 0.2-0.4 mg |
Contraindications
The use of a biologically active substance is prohibited in the following cases:
- Individual intolerance to individual components of the drug.
- Allergic reactions to Folate.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency.
- Carbohydrate deficiency.
- Impaired adsorption of galactose and glucose.
You should take the medicine with caution if you have B9 vitamin anemia with symptoms of cyanocobalamin deficiency.
Beneficial properties for men
Much has been said about the beneficial effects of vitamin B9 on the female body. However, we should not forget about the benefits of folacin for the stronger half of humanity. The intake of vitamin B9 into the male body has a beneficial effect on hematopoiesis, the functioning of the brain and nervous system, reproductive functions, and also has a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
It improves potency, increases sperm quality, normalizes the level of sex hormones, and reduces the risk of male infertility. It is recommended to start taking the substance several months before conception.
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Why is folic acid prescribed to pregnant women?
Vitamin B9 is involved in the formation of amino acid and RNA structures, which are necessary for cell division and the subsequent development of a new organism. In addition, it ensures high-quality absorption of iron and other important elements for normal activity.
Folic acid deficiency poses a significant threat to reproducing cells: without it, hematopoiesis cannot occur and the correct formation of internal organs and tissues of the fetus will not occur.
Vitamin B9 promotes the production of hydrochloric acid, is involved in the metabolism of adrenaline and serotonin, and regulates the functioning of the nervous system.
If folic acid is supplied in small quantities during pregnancy, the fetus increases the risk of hydrocephalus, spinal pathologies, heart defects and brain diseases.
Signs of a deficiency of the active substance are weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbance, apathy, depression and irritability.
Functions for which vitamin B9 is responsible
The main function of the vitamin in the body is to participate in the circulatory system. She takes part in the formation of new blood cells. You can also highlight the beneficial properties of vitamin B9:
- processing of fats, carbohydrates;
- participation in childbearing;
- reducing the risk of developing pathologies in the fetus;
- ensuring the proper functioning of internal organs (liver, kidneys);
- maintaining the protective functions of the body;
- participation in food digestion;
- maintaining healthy skin tone;
- participation in the functioning of the cardiovascular system, namely lowering blood pressure and cholesterol;
- improving the functioning of the brain and spinal cord;
- preservation of youth.
How to take Folic acid during pregnancy
The optimal requirement of vitamin B9 for an adult is 50 mcg, but a pregnant woman needs much more.
The exact dosage of the drug is calculated by the doctor, according to clinical indications.
Pregnant women with the norm of the biologically active substance are prescribed 400 mcg. If necessary, the therapeutic dosage is changed from 100 to 800 mcg per day.
Vitamin B9 deficiency poses a great danger to the fetus in the early stages of its development, so many experts recommend starting to use the drug before pregnancy. It is advisable to take a course of pills at least 3 months before conception.
A regular tablet contains 1 mg of active ingredient, while a complex of vitamins designed specifically for pregnant women contains from 300 mcg. Therefore, it is enough for a woman to take a pill per day to replenish the body’s need for folate for normal functioning.
Indications for the purpose of the study
Folic acid (from the Latin folium - “leaf”) is a water-soluble vitamin B9, part of the group of folates, which can be of both natural and synthetic origin.
When entering the body, folic acid and other folates are converted into biologically active substances involved in metabolism. The terms "folate" and "folic acid" are often used interchangeably. The composition of medications and vitamin complexes in the vast majority of cases includes folic acid (vitamin B9).
The level of folate in the body depends on food preferences, cooking methods and the state of the gastrointestinal tract.
The largest amount of folic acid is found in leafy vegetables (lettuce, spinach), legumes, mushrooms, eggs, organ meats (liver, kidneys), and yeast.
During cooking, some folates are destroyed - when cooking vegetables and meat, the loss of folic acid reaches 70-90%, when cooking eggs - 50%. Folate starvation occurs in newborns who are fed goat's milk.
Folic acid is absorbed in the duodenum and proximal jejunum. In blood plasma it binds to transport proteins. Vitamin B9 is included in the composition of red blood cells, and its main depot is the liver, where it is in an inactive state and turns into an active form as the body needs.
In the human body, folate is contained in an amount of 5-10 mg. The daily requirement is 50-100 mcg, increasing during pregnancy, lactation, and heavy physical labor. Folic acid reserves are depleted 1-4 months after it stops entering the body.
Folic acid is necessary for the full development of the embryo, hematopoiesis, renewal of the intestinal mucosa, and for wound healing.
With folic acid deficiency, megaloblastic anemia, leukopenia (decrease in the number of white blood cells), growth retardation, impaired renewal of the small intestinal mucosa, and slow wound healing develop. Vitamin B9 is also necessary for the synthesis of substances that transmit nerve impulses from one neuron to another, and the functioning of the immune system.
Impaired folate metabolism leads to an increase in the total level of homocysteine in the plasma, which can cause an increased risk of thrombosis and the development of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction, and stroke. There is a connection between high levels of homocysteine and pregnancy complications (recurrent miscarriage, placental insufficiency, developmental delay and intrauterine fetal death, placental abruption, premature birth), fetal development defects (Down syndrome, encephalomeningocele, myelomeningocele, etc.).
Folic acid testing is prescribed:
- to determine the sufficient level of vitamin B9 in the body;
- pregnant women to determine the risk of congenital defects of the fetus;
- as part of the diagnosis of anemia;
- to monitor folic acid levels during treatment.
You need to know that independent and uncontrolled intake of folic acid is unacceptable, since an overdose of the drug can lead to serious consequences.
Thus, pregnant women with an overdose of folic acid may give birth to children with weak immunity and a tendency to bronchial asthma and colds. Long-term intake of high doses of folic acid provokes digestive disorders, causes disturbances in kidney function, leads to a decrease in the level of vitamin B12 and the development of anemia.
What diseases require additional folic acid intake?
Folic acid may play a role in the prevention and treatment of the following diseases: alcoholism, anemia (especially pernicious anemia), atherosclerosis, cervical dysplasia, cervical tumors, Crohn's disease, depression, diarrhea, gingivitis, glossitis, glycogen storage diseases, hyperhomocysteinemia, inflammatory bowel disease, insomnia, myelopathy, neural tube defect, non-senile dementia, ovarian tumors, periodontal disease, restless legs syndrome, schizophrenia, seborrheic dermatitis, tropical sprue, uterine tumors.
Folate deficiency
Folic acid deficiency leads to the following consequences:
| In the fetus | Among women | In men |
Disturbance of neurulation causes non-closure of the neural tube, in which the following defects develop:
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A lack of folic acid can occur with:
- constant consumption of cooked food;
- poor nutrition;
- rapid growth during adolescence;
- anemia;
- insufficient dosage during gestation;
- impaired absorption of beneficial elements in the intestine;
- oncological diseases;
- gastrointestinal diseases;
- bad habits;
- caffeine abuse;
- long-term use of COCs containing estrogen and progesterone. Some oral contraceptives include B9 to avoid hypovitaminosis.
If abnormal development of the neural tube in the fetus is detected early, abortion is performed. If a child is born with impaired neurulation, he dies in the first days after birth.
Excess folic acid can manifest itself:
- bloating;
- bitterness in the mouth;
- nausea;
- loss of appetite.
It is extremely rare that an allergy occurs, the temperature rises, a skin rash appears, psycho-emotional excitability, and bronchospasm develops. But even when high doses are used, adverse effects of the drug are usually not observed.
Folates for men
About 10% of women become pregnant in the first year of marriage. That is, men also need to take folic acid when planning pregnancy, this increases the likelihood of conception.
In addition, Q9:
- stimulates sperm formation;
- enhances sperm activity;
- maintains the quality and volume of seminal fluid;
- prevents infertility;
- has a tonic effect on the body;
- reduces the number of mutations in male gametes, which reduces the likelihood of fertilization of an egg with a defective sperm and the birth of a child with congenital genetic syndromes;
- reduces the risk of gestational complications;
- activates the immune system.
Folate concentration levels are important for healthy spermatogenesis.
Dosage
For preventive purposes, it is enough for an adult to take 400 mcg of folic acid daily. The same dose is required for adolescents during the period of active growth in order to prevent the development of anemia and retardation in physical development.
The need for folic acid in women planning pregnancy increases sharply. Six months before the expected conception, they should start taking 1 mg of the substance daily. This will contribute to the proper formation of the baby’s nervous system and help avoid the development of congenital defects.
Interaction with other tools
Despite the fact that folic acid is a vitamin, before you start taking it, you should consider its compatibility with other drugs used by the patient. For example, a number of medications reduce the rate of absorption of folic acid in the intestine:
- Antacids.
- Some antibacterial agents: tetracyclines, sulfonamides, etc.
Some diuretics, for example, Triamterene, can also reduce the severity of the effect of folic acid, which should be taken into account when using them together.
Is it possible to take the drug without a prescription?
Folic acid and vitamin complexes containing it are sold in pharmacies without a prescription. The amount of the drug needed by a specific person for a lack of folic acid is calculated individually based on several indicators: gender, age, general condition of the body. Therefore, in order to choose a therapeutic dosage, you should consult a doctor.
In addition, the drug has some contraindications: hypersensitivity to folic acid, cancer, vitamin B12 deficiency. If a person has such conditions, the use of folates should be completely abandoned.
Destination Features
You should take folic acid following these rules:
- do not miss an appointment;
- with prolonged use, monitor the level of vitamin B12 in the blood;
- take into account the dose in tablets and received with food to avoid overdose;
- Do not choose medications on your own and do not change the dosage;
- women need more folate than men;
- warn the doctor about the treatment of chronic diseases;
- be constantly monitored by a gynecologist;
- consult a doctor if your health worsens;
- notify the doctor immediately if ARVI or any inflammatory processes occur;
- Do not use if you are hypersensitive.
Folacin is not absorbed or partially absorbed:
- on an empty stomach;
- when smoking;
- alcoholism;
- stress;
- with lack of sleep;
- hard work in hazardous industries;
- taking antibiotics, hormones.
When planning pregnancy, alcohol, smoking, caffeinated drinks, and fast foods are excluded.
