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Dietary Supplements – Folic Acid
The debate about the
necessity of taking dietary supplements is still raging.
While many health care professionals believe we get
all we need from the foods we eat, others prefer to
offer extra vitamins when their patients are under a
stress such as pregnancy or illness or even aging, when
the body’s function is impaired or overloaded.
Studies have proven that taking extra
B group vitamins, especially folic acid and B12 have
reduced birth defects by 72 to 100%. And since regulations
authorizing the addition of folic acid to grains have
come into force, the incidence of birth defects in the
USA has dropped by 19%, though sceptics claim there
could be other reasons.
So what are some of the symptoms of
folate deficiency? If your tongue is inflamed and you
suffer from loss of appetite, shortness of breath, are
irritable, forgetful and mentally sluggish, you may
have a folic acid deficiency. Folic acid is one of the
B group of vitamins and most animal and plant foods
are poor sources of it. The exception is liver which
most people don’t eat a lot of these days. Some
habits and diseases also play a major part in causing
a deficiency of this vitamin. Celiac disease, alcoholism
and irritable bowel syndrome are three such.
Studies have also suggested that when
elderly people suffer from depression it is caused by
a lack of folate (B9). It should be taken with B6 And
B12 to help its absorption and function in the body.
These three vitamins work closely together and help
relieve symptoms of depression. They do this by decreasing
the amount of homocysteine, which is thought to play
an active part in causing the depression. Sometimes
the amount of folate in proportion to the other two
may need to be increased.
Several population-based studies across
the USA have found that various cancers are less prevalent
in people who have high levels of folic acid. These
people also consumed high amounts of beta-carotene,
vitamin C and fiber. One very large study of 50,000
women found that adequate intakes of folate significantly
reduced the risk of breast cancer.
Some prescription medications for inflammatory
bowel disease have been found to interfere with the
bodies ability to absorb folate (folic acid) and the
deficiency has also been linked to male infertility
and heart disease.
Foods that offer the most folic acid
are dark leafy greens, brewers yeast, beef liver, some
seafood, orange juice and milk. Root vegetables and
whole grains also provide small amounts.
Side effects from folic acid supplements
are rare, though they can occur if the dose exceeds
15000 mcg. Taking any one of the B group of vitamins
alone can cause a deficiency in the others, so don’t
be part smart. Find out if you really do need it and
make sure your health care professional knows you intend
to take it. Some prescription medicines like antibiotics
and warfarin can react adversely to this supplement,
while others like ibuprofen and aspirin can actually
cause a deficiency. Methotrexate, used to treat some
cancer and rheumatoid arthritis increases the body’s
need for folic acid, and its side-effects are greatly
reduced by addition of this vitamin without impairing
its effectiveness, so if you must take this drug, be
sure see your health care professional about adding
folic acid to your diet
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