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Vitamin ~ Folic acid
Getting enough of this B vitamin could prevent 50,000 deaths a year from cardiovascular disease.It could also reduce by nearly half the number of babies born with common birth defects and possibly prevent many cancers.Yet nine out of ten American adults take in too little folic acid.
| COMMON USES |
WHAT IT IS |
FOUND IN HERBALIFE PRODUCTS
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- Protects against birth defects.
- Reduces heart disease and stroke risk.
- Lowers risk for several cancers.
| This water-soluble B vitamin, also called folacin or folate, was first identified in the 1940s when it was extracted from spinach.Because the body can't store it very long, you need to replenish your supply daily.Cooking, or even long storage, can destroy up to half the folic acid in foods, so supplements may be the best way to get enough of this vital nutrient. | |
| FORMS |
WHAT IT DOES |
LATEST FINDINGS
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- Tablet
- Capsule
- Liquid
- Powder
| In the body, folic acid is utilized thousands of times a day to make blood cells, heal wounds, build muscle - in fact, it's necessary for every function that requires cell division.Folic acid is critical to DNA and RNA formation and assures that cells duplicate normally.It is especially important in fetal development and helps produce key chemicals for the brain and nervous system.
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- For prevention of disease, the best way to get enough folic acid may be through supplements.In a small study, people taking 400 mcg of folic acid a day in pills or in specially fortified foods increased their folic acid level.But those who just ate foods naturally rich in folic acid showed no increase.Scientists speculate that the folic acid found naturally in foods may not be absorbed well enough to have a therapeutic effect.
- A preliminary study from Oxford University hints that folic acid may play a role in preventing Alzheimer's disease.People with the disease tended to have lower blood levels of folic acid and vitamin B12 than healthy people of the same age.
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| CAUTION! |
PREVENTION |
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
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- Folic acid supplements, even at normal doses, may mask a type of anemia caused by a vitamin B12 deficiency.Unchecked, this anemia can cause irreversible nerve damage and dementia.If you take folic acid supplements, be sure to take extra vitamin B12 as well.
- Reminder: If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.
| Adequate folic acid at conception and for the first three months of pregnancy greatly reduces the risk of serious birth defects, including spina bifida.This B vitamin also appears to regulate the body's production and use of homocysteine, an amino acid-like substance that at high levels may damage the lining of blood vessels, making them more susceptible to plaque buildup.This makes folic acid an important weapon against heart disease.In addition, it may be useful in warding off certain cancers, including those of the lungs, cervix, colon, and rectum.
| Folic acid may help depression.Because high levels of homocysteine may contribute to this condition, some experts think folic acid (which is often deficient in people who are depressed) may be of value because it reduces homocysteine levels.Studies also show that taking folic acid improves the effectiveness of antidepressants in people with low folic acid levels.Folic acid supplements have been useful in treating gout and irritable bowel syndrome as well.Because high homocysteine levels may be a factor in osteoporosis, folic acid may even help keep bones strong. |
| HOW MUCH YOU NEED |
IF YOU GET TOO LITTLE |
IF YOU GET TOO MUCH
| | The current adult RDA for folic acid is 400 mcg a day.Supplements are important for older people, who may not get enough of this vitamin in food.
| Though relatively rare, a severe folic acid deficiency can cause a form of anemia (megaloblastic anemia), a sore red tongue, chronic diarrhea, and poor growth (in children).Alcoholics and people who are on certain medications (for cancer or epilepsy) or who have malabsorption diseases (Crohn's, celiac sprue) are susceptible to severe deficiency.Much more common is a low level of folic acid, which causes no symptoms but raises the risk of heart disease or birth defects.
| Very large doses - 5,000 to 10,000 mcg - offer no benefit and may be dangerous for people with hormone-related cancers, such as those of the breast or prostate.High doses may also cause seizures in those with epilepsy.The National Academy of Sciences suggest an upper daily limit for folic acid of 1,000 mcg for adults. |
| OTHER SOURCES |
DID YOU KNOW |
GUIDELINES FOR USE
| | Excellent food sources of folic acid include green vegetables, beans, whole grains, and orange juice.Some refined grain products are now fortified with folic acid.
| You'd need to eat 24 spears of asparagus a day to get the 400 mcg of folic acid recommended for good health.
| Folic acid can be taken at any time of the day, with or without food.When taking individual folic acid supplements for any reason, combine it with an additional 1,000 mcg of vitamin B12 to prevent a B12 deficiency.
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