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<2h>what is Folic Acid Vitamin ( Vitamin B9)? | Vitmin – B9 | Folic Acid Vitamin | Folic Acid

FOLIC ACID is a water-soluble, B complex vitamin. It is in many foods like liver, kidneys, yeast, and leafy, green vegetables. It is used to treat megaloblastic anemia and anemia from poor diet in pregnant women, babies, and children.Folic acid is itself not biologically active with its biological importance being due to tetrahydrofolate and other derivatives after its conversion to dihydrofolic acid in the liver.Folic acid is also known as vitamin B9 or folacin and folate, as well as pteroyl L glutamic acid and pteroyl L glutamate, are forms of the water soluble vitamin B9.

This is especially necessary during both pregnancy and infancy when cell growth is extremely rapid. Both adults and children need folic acid to make normal red blood cells and to prevent anemia. The human body needs folate to synthesize DNA, repair DNA, and methylate DNA as well as to act as a cofactor in biological reactions involving folate.It is especially important during periods of rapid cell division and growth. Both children and adults require folic acid to produce healthy red blood cells and prevent anemia. Folate and folic acid derive their names from the Latin word folium.

These B vitamins, often referred to as B complex vitamins, also help the body metabolize fats and protein. B complex vitamins are necessary for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. They also help the nervous system function properly.It is also required for protein metabolism and in treating folic acid anemia. Folic acid also assists in digestion, and the nervous system, and works at improving mental as well as emotional health. This nutrient may be effective in treating depression and anxiety.

Birth Defects

Some studies show that folic acid supplementation in children may result in the development of malaria and increased mortality this has prompted the World Health Organization to alter their supplementation policies for children in areas like India.Pregnant women should get 600 mcg of folic acid per day. Women who plan to become pregnant should make sure to get the recommended 400 mcg per day, since many neural tube defects can occur shortly after conception.

Heart Disease:

Adequate concentrations of folate, vitamin B12, or vitamin B6 may decrease the circulating level of homocysteine, an amino acid normally found in blood. There is evidence that an elevated homocysteine level is an independent risk factor for heart disease and stroke. The evidence suggests that high levels of homocysteine may damage coronary arteries or make it easier for blood clotting cells called platelets to clump together and form a clot.Collectively, many studies indicate that patients with elevated levels of the amino acid homocysteine are roughly 1.7 times more likely to develop coronary artery disease and 2.5 times more likely to suffer from a stroke than those with normal levels. However, researchers don’t yet know whether high levels of homocysteine actually cause heart disease, or whether something else causes heart disease as well as high homocysteine levels.

Cancer:

However, this evidence is based on population studies that show people who get enough folate in their diet have lower rates of these cancers. It is not clear exactly how folate might help prevent cancer. Some researchers speculate that folic acid keeps DNA healthy and prevents mutations that can lead to cancer.In addition folic acid may not be helpful, and could even be damaging, in people who already are suffering from cancer or from a precancerous condition. Conversely, it has been suggested that excess folate may promote tumor initiation.Folate has shown to play a dual role in cancer development; low folate intake protects against early carcinogenesis but high folate intake promotes advanced carcinogenesis.

Depression:

There is some limited evidence from randomised controlled trials that using folic acid in addition to antidepressants, specifically SSRIs, may have benefits. Research at the University of York and Hull York Medical School has found a link between depression and low levels of folate.One study by the same team involved 15,315 subjects. However, the evidence is probably too limited at present for this to be a routine treatment recommendation.Low levels of folic acid have also been associated with a poor response to antidepressants. However, more research is needed to understand the link it appears that folic acid may help enhance the effect of antidepressants.

Food Sources Of Folic Acid:

Fresh green vegetables, such as spinach and broccoli contain folic acid. It is also found in fruit, starchy vegetables, beans, whole grains and liver.

1.Fortified juices.

2.Fortified cereals and grain products.

3.Liver.

4.Mushrooms.

5.Asparagus.

6.Broccoli.

7.Leafy greens such as spinach and turnip greens.