Who needs folic acid?

CDC urges all women of reproductive age to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid each day, in addition to consuming food with folate from a varied diet, to help prevent some major birth defects of the baby's brain (anencephaly) and spine (spina bifida).

Why would doctor prescribe folic acid?

Folic acid is used to treat or prevent folic acid deficiency. It is a B-complex vitamin needed by the body to manufacture red blood cells. A deficiency of this vitamin causes certain types of anemia (low red blood cell count).

Why do adults need folic acid?

Folic acid is used for preventing and treating low blood levels of folate (folate deficiency) and high blood levels of homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia). People who are pregnant or might become pregnant take folic acid to prevent serious birth defects such as spina bifida.

Is it OK to take folic acid when not pregnant?

Therefore, taking folic acid if you're a woman and not pregnant helps ensure you have adequate levels of folate for a developing fetus before you find out you're pregnant. Additionally, research indicates folic acid may play a preventive role in autism, type 2 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

Who is at risk for folic acid deficiency?

Folate deficiency is most commonly found in pregnant and lactating women, people with chronic conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, people following restricted diets due to weight-loss regimes or medical conditions, people with alcohol dependence and people more than 65 years of age.

Why You Should Take Folic Acid BEFORE Pregnancy

Does folic acid cause weight gain?

There is no evidence that people with adequate blood levels of folic acid will gain weight if they take supplements. However, weight loss is one possible side effect of a folate deficiency.

What are the symptoms of low folic acid?

What causes a lack of folic acid?

A diet low in fresh fruits, vegetables, and fortified cereals is the main cause of folate deficiency. In addition, overcooking your food can sometimes destroy the vitamins. Folate levels in your body can become low in just a few weeks if you don't eat enough folate-rich foods.

What does folic acid do for a woman?

If a woman has enough folic acid in her body before she is pregnant, it can help prevent major birth defects of her baby's brain and spine. These birth defects are neural tube defects or NTDs. Women need to take folic acid every day, starting before they are pregnant to help prevent NTDs.

What are three indications for folic acid?

What are the side effects of taking folic acid?

Is folic acid and vitamin B12 the same thing?

Vitamin B12 compliments proper brain development and function, as well as the functioning of blood cells and nerves. Folic acid is a synthetic form of folate, a water-soluble B vitamin.

What does folic acid do to your hair?

According to Dr Chaturvedi, folic acid helps to promote hair growth, add volume and even reduce the rate of premature greying—it does so by amping up the body's cell production processes. “If you're deficient in folate, taking supplements may result in the growth of new hair in some patients,” Dr Gupta agrees.

When should I start taking folic acid?

It's important to take a 400 micrograms folic acid tablet every day before you're pregnant and until you're 12 weeks pregnant. Folic acid can help prevent birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida.

What happens if you have too much folic acid?

Excess folic acid is excreted in urine. A high folate intake can mask vitamin B-12 deficiency until its neurological effects become irreversible. This can typically be remedied by taking a supplement containing 100 percent of the daily value of both folic acid and vitamin B-12.

Is folic acid deficiency serious?

While folate deficiency is rare, it can cause severe complications such as birth defects and anemia. So it's important to eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and other foods that contain folate or folic acid. In addition, you can take a folic acid supplement.

Does low folic acid cause weight gain?

Furthermore, folate deficiency may lead to body weight gain and adiposity [12]. Several studies has indicated a link between low folate intake or low serum folate concentration and greater body mass, BMI, overall fat accumulation, and higher waist circumference [13,14,15,16].

What cancers cause folic acid deficiency?

More recently, however, folate deficiency has been implicated in the development of cancer, notably of the cervix, lung, breast, brain and colorectum.

Can I take folic acid everyday?

You should also take folic acid everyday even if you don't have plans to have children or if you think you can't get pregnant. Since 40 percent of pregnancies worldwide are unplanned, getting enough folic acid is a good plan should you have a surprise.

Can I take B12 and folic acid together?

Taking folic acid at high doses can hide a vitamin B12 deficiency. So these vitamins are often taken together. Talk to your doctor before taking more than 800 mcg of folic acid.

Does folic acid give you energy?

Vitamin B9, also called folate or folic acid, is one of 8 B vitamins. All B vitamins help the body convert food (carbohydrates) into fuel (glucose), which is used to produce energy.

Does folic acid make you tired?

It can cause symptoms like weakness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and shortness of breath ( 14 , 15 ). If you take folic acid supplements and recognize any of these symptoms, consider getting your B12 levels checked. High intakes of folic acid may mask a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Is folic acid good for skin?

Because folic acid helps to facilitate the development of healthy skin cells, it can help fight out premature aging, specifically wrinkles and fine lines. It has also been found to increase the production of collagen to give you firmer and more toned skin.

Can folic acid reverse gray hair?

It is purported that when Pantothenic Acid and folic acid are taken together it helps reverse graying by taking the hair back to its original color. Inositol, a substance found naturally in the human body, may encourage the growth and overall health of hair.

Does folic acid help with sleep?

B vitamins

A lack of B5 may cause you to wake up repeatedly in the evenings, while B12 and folic acid, which is vitamin B9, are known to help fight insomnia.