What Is The Folic Acid Used For?

Folic Acid, also known as vitamin B9 or folic acid, is an important water-soluble B vitamin. It was first purified from spinach leaves and got its name. It plays a vital role in many body functions. It participates in the metabolism of genetic material and protein, improves the body's immunity, and is one of the essential vitamins for the growth and reproduction of body cells. It plays a powerful role in human health. It is often used to supplement nutrition during pregnancy preparation and pregnancy, avoid birth defects, or prevent the risk of stroke in patients with type H hypertension. Understanding the benefits and applications of vitamin B9 can help people make the right decisions about their own nutritional needs and overall health maintenance.

Why should we supplement folic acid during pregnancy?

Folic Acid participates in DNA synthesis and is closely related to birth defects. It participates in the synthesis of amino acid metabolism, hemoglobin and methyl compounds such as adrenaline, choline, creatine, etc.

The early pregnancy is a critical period for the neural development of the fetus. If it is lacking at this time, it may cause neural tube development defects and lead to deformities. The advantage of preventing birth defects in babies is that folic acid can prevent defects in the fetal nervous system, especially when taken in the first three months of pregnancy. Women of childbearing age can reduce the probability of fetal nervous system malformations by taking 0.4 mg of folic acid every day from the beginning of pregnancy preparation.

In addition to preventing neural tube defects, it can also promote the development of infant nerve cells and brain cells, protect nerve axons, promote communication between neurons, help promote brain cell growth, and improve intelligence.

In addition, it will also affect the basic structure of DNA and cells. Insufficient folic acid is likely to cause placental abruption, pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome, intrauterine growth retardation, etc., and such babies will be affected in growth and intellectual development after birth.

The impact of folic acid supplementation is not limited to short-term pregnancy results. Elevated Hcy levels can easily lead to preeclampsia. Hcy, or homocysteine, requires the participation of folic acid, vitamin B12, and N5, N10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) in its metabolic pathway. Taking it can effectively inhibit the increase in Hcy concentration and regulate it to a normal level. Controlling Hcy concentration at a normal level is beneficial to reducing the incidence of preeclampsia.

What are the functions of folic acid in the human body?

Maintaining cardiovascular health

It also has a positive effect on maintaining cardiovascular health. It can help reduce the level of an amino acid called homocysteine ​​in the blood. High levels of homocysteine ​​are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. When homocysteine ​​levels are elevated, endothelial function may be impaired, leading to coronary heart disease, hypertension, etc.

Significantly reduce the risk of fetal birth defects

For pregnant women, the early pregnancy is a critical period for the development of the fetal neural tube. Adequate folic acid intake can effectively prevent the occurrence of neural tube defects in the fetus (such as anencephaly, encephalocele, spina bifida, etc.), and also has a certain preventive effect on cleft lip and palate and congenital heart disease.

Preventing fetal neural tube defects

Pregnant women can effectively reduce the risk of fetal neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, and other serious birth defects by supplementing them in appropriate amounts in the early pregnancy.

Promoting nervous system health

Folic Acid also plays an important role in the normal development and functional maintenance of the nervous system. Folic acid deficiency may lead to neurological diseases such as memory loss and cognitive impairment.

Participate in the cell division process

The basis of human growth, development and self-repair is cell division. In this process, folic acid can ensure the normal development and tissue repair of the body by promoting the synthesis of DNA and RNA, regulating the cell cycle, participating in protein metabolism and supporting the maturation of red blood cells.

For example, mature red blood cells are rich in hemoglobin, which is an important tool for transporting oxygen to various parts of the body. Lack of hemoglobin can lead to poor development of red blood cells and form megaloblastic anemia, which not only causes symptoms such as fatigue and weakness, but may also cause heart problems.

What dose of folic acid is the most appropriate?

Pregnant women should take 0.6 mg of folic acid every day.

In order to prevent neural tube defects, in addition to the folic acid taken in the diet, the daily dose of folic acid required is different according to the specific situation of different pregnant women. The following explains how pregnant women should supplement folic acid to prevent neural tube defects in different situations.

Women without high-risk factors

It is recommended to supplement 0.4 mg or 0.8 mg of folic acid every day from the time of possible pregnancy or at least 3 months before pregnancy until the pregnancy is 3 months.

Women whose spouses have neural tube defects or have a history of neural tube defects

It is recommended to supplement 4 mg of folic acid every day from the time of possible pregnancy or at least 1 month before pregnancy until the pregnancy is 3 months. If there is no 4 mg but a 5 mg folic acid dosage form, 5 mg of folic acid can also be supplemented every day.

Women with congenital hydrocephalus, congenital heart disease, cleft lip and palate, limb defects, urinary system defects, or family history of the above defects, or first- and second-degree relatives with a history of neural tube defects

It is recommended to supplement 0.8~1.0mg of folic acid every day from the time of possible pregnancy or at least 3 months before pregnancy until the 3rd month of pregnancy.

Women who smoke, have diabetes, obesity or epilepsy

It is recommended to supplement 0.8~1.0mg of folic acid every day from the time of possible pregnancy or at least 3 months before pregnancy until the 3rd month of pregnancy.

Women who are taking drugs that increase the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus

Women who are taking anti-epileptic drugs (such as carbamazepine, valproic acid, phenytoin sodium, primidone, phenobarbital), hypoglycemic drugs (such as metformin), antineoplastic drugs (such as methotrexate), antibacterial drugs (such as sulfasalazine, trimethoprim), diuretics (such as triamterene), and lipid-lowering drugs (such as cholestyramine) are recommended to supplement 0.8~1.0mg of folic acid every day from the time of possible pregnancy or at least 3 months before pregnancy until the pregnancy is 3 months.

Women with gastrointestinal malabsorption diseases

It is recommended to supplement 0.8~1.0mg of folic acid every day from the time of possible pregnancy or at least 3 months before pregnancy until the pregnancy is 3 months.

Women with hyperhomocysteinemia

It is recommended to supplement at least 5mg of folic acid every day until the blood homocysteine ​​level drops to normal before considering pregnancy, and continue to supplement 5mg of folic acid every day until the pregnancy is 3 months.

Shaanxi Yuantai Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (YTBIO), founded in 2014, is a global healthcare company headquartered in Xi'an with a production base in Weinan. We focus on health food ingredients such as herbal extracts, magnesium threonate and creatine monohydrate, and cosmetic ingredients such as sponge bone spicules, retinol, glutathione and arbutin. Our partners are located in Europe, America, Southeast Asia and South Korea. We have a warehouse in Rotterdam for EU distribution and plan to set up a warehouse in the United States. We focus on quality and hold certifications such as HACCP, ISO9001, ISO22000, HALAL, KOSHER, FDA, EU&NOP Organic and NMPA. We also assist Korean customers with KFDA registration. Our goal is to establish long-term partnerships with customers through high-quality products and professional services. If you are interested in purchasing our Folic Acid or other products, please contact sales@sxytorganic.com or +86-029-86478251 / +86-029-86119593.