Due to its ability to help the body produce new cells and increase the amount of red blood cells, folic acid is often prescribed for pregnant women. In addition, women need to supplement with folic acid both before and after pregnancy to ensure they are always healthy and radiant. Stay tuned!
What is folic acid?
Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin commonly found in many natural foods. Since 1998, folic acid has been added to cold grains, flour, bread, pasta, bakery items and biscuits as required by federal law. Foods that are naturally high in folic acid include leafy vegetables (such as spinach, broccoli and lettuce), okra, asparagus, fruit (such as bananas, melons, and lemons) beans, some fermented foods, mushrooms, meat (such as beef liver and kidneys), orange juice and tomato juice.
Benefits of folic acid
Folic acid is used to prevent and treat low blood folate levels (folate deficiency), as well as its complications, including anemia and intracellular damage that leads to the inability of the gut to absorb. nutrient receptors. Folic acid is also used for other conditions commonly associated with folate deficiency such as ulcerative colitis, liver disease, alcoholism, and kidney dialysis.
Due to its ability to help the body produce new cells and increase the amount of red blood cells, folic acid is indicated for use by pregnant women to prevent miscarriages, neural tube defects, and other birth defects.
In some cases, folic acid is used to prevent colon or cervical cancer. In addition, it also helps prevent heart disease and stroke, as well as lowers blood levels of a chemical called homocysteine. High homocysteine levels may be a risk factor for heart disease.
Folic acid is also used in memory loss, Alzheimer's disease, age-related hearing loss, preventing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), reducing signs of aging, and weak bones ( osteoporosis), jump feet (restless legs syndrome), sleep problems, depression, neuralgia, muscle pain, AIDS, a type of skin disease called vitiligo and Fragile-X di syndrome transmission. It is also used to reduce the harmful side effects of treatment with drugs containing lometrexol and methotrexate.
Some people apply folic acid directly to the gums to treat gum infections.
Folic acid is often used in combination with other B vitamins.
Signs that need to add folic acid immediately
Show signs of depression, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness and irritability
Headache, muscle pain in the chest and legs
Feelings of muscle weakness, fatigue, numbness in the hands and feet, and pale skin.
Difficulty breathing, increased heart rate and feeling dizzy or even fainting.
Gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea after meals. A severe case is when you have anorexia that leads to rapid weight loss.
A swollen, red tongue, usually around the head and edges of the tongue, painful when swallowing or a sore tongue and a fever in the mouth.
Loss of taste.
How to supplement folic acid
The easiest way to deal with a folate deficiency is through diet. Eat plenty of dark green vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach, and asparagus. In addition, citrus fruits, beans, mushrooms and whole grains should be consumed regularly. In the case of supplementing the above foods but still do not work, it is necessary to intervene with oral tablets or folic acid injections. However, a doctor or pharmacist's prescription is required.
Side effects of folic acid
Folic acid is a form of vitamin that can dissolve in water, so most of them do not report side effects when using. But if you abuse it too much, it can cause symptoms like chest tightness, nausea, flatulence, zinc deficiency, sleep disturbances, cognition, cell proliferation and allergies.
Therefore, the supplementation of folic acid in sufficient doses is extremely necessary.
Note when supplementing with folic acid
Folic acid as well as other vitamins are easily broken down when cooking, so you should steam, use the microwave, or stir-fry, not cook sticky rice, processing too carefully will make food lose. matter.
Women of reproductive age, including those who are or do not intend to become pregnant, should take a daily supplement of folic acid.
Do not use this drug if you have ever been allergic to folic acid or have problems such as: kidney disease (or are on dialysis), hemolytic anemia, malignant anemia, undiagnosed anemia. by doctors and confirmed by tests, infections, alcoholism.
If you miss a dose, make up for it as soon as possible. However, if it is close to the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the time as planned. Do not take double the prescribed dose.
Every dose of folic acid requires the appointment of a doctor, not arbitrarily using the drug. In case of emergency or overdose, call the Emergency Center 115 right away or go to the nearest local health station.
see more
Iron and folic acid supplementation before pregnancy to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications.
Prenatal DHA; Pregnant women need to pay attention that DHA supplementation is beneficial for pregnancy
One month pregnant belly has not grown yet and signs of early pregnancy need to know