Folic
Acid and Babies
Every year in the United States about
2, 500 babies are born with a neural tube defect (NTD).
About 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 births - 11 a day - in the
United States have a neural tube defect. The most common
is the crippling defects spina bifid, or "spine,"
which occurs when the vertebrae don't form a complete ring
to protect the spine. Sometimes the brain never develops
at all, a rare and always - fatal condition called anencephaly.
Recent studies have conclusively shown that taking 400 mcg
of folic acid each day before getting pregnant can prevent
between 50 and 75 percent of all neural tube defects. In
1992, the U.S. public Health Service recommended that all
women of child - bearing age consume 400 mcg of folic acid
daily. Every agency and organization concerned with birth
defects, from the FDA to the March of Dimes, strongly endorsed
this recommendation. And in 1998, the DRI was raised to
600 mcg a day for pregnant women.
Your unborn baby needs folic acid the most during the first
month of pregnancy, when the neural tube is formed - but
you might not realize you're pregnant during that critical
time, even if you've been trying to have a baby. Also, some
recent studies in the Netherlands suggest that women with
high folic-acid levels have fewer miscarriages. It's vitally
important for every woman to get enough folic acid. If you're
a woman between the ages of 15 and 47, the time to start
taking folic - acid supplements is NOW.
Folic
Acid and Heart Disease
Like most heart - conscious people, you
already know that high cholesterol is a warning sign of
possible heart disease. But what you don't know is that
most people who have a first heart attack have normal cholesterol
levels. Cholesterol isn't causing the problem, it's due
to that high blood levels of homocysteine, and amino acid
found naturally in your body damages the lining of your
arteries. The next question is, what causes the homocysteine
to build up to dangerous levels? Here, too, the answer is
very clear: not enough folic acid. Working with Pyridoxine
and cobalamin, folic acid quickly breaks down the homocysteine
and removes it from your body before it can do any damage.
Not enough folic acid, and the homocysteine hangs around
too long, attacking your artery walls. All you need to prevent
this is 1 to 2 mg of folic acid per day. Getting more folic
acid from the vitamin B9 supplements, is simple, safe, and
cheap - and it could save your life. By some estimates,
just 1 mg a day could be enough to prevent 50,000 heart
attacks a year.
Folic
Acid and Colon Cancer
Folic acid helps prevent colon cancer.
Recent studies show that people with low folic-acid levels
are more likely to get colon cancer. If you're a women and
get a lot of folic acid daily (from diet and supplements)
for instance, your chances of colon cancer are sharply lower
- by as much as 60%.
People with ulcerative colitis (UC), a serious chronic disease
of the large intestine, have an increased risk of getting
colon cancer - and they also often have low folic - acid
levels. For many patients, the reason is that the drug sulfasalazine
(Azulfidin), which helps UC a lot, also blocks their uptake
of folic acid. Recent studies show that UC patients who
take 1 mg a day of extra folic acid cut their chances of
colon cancer nearly in half. If you have ulcerative colitis,
get some folic - acid supplements is strongly recommended.
Folic
Acid and Cervical Cancer
Women with cervical dysphasia may later
develop cancer of the cervix, especially if the problem
isn't detected and treated early on. Many women infected
with human papillomavirus (HPV) have cervical dysphasia.
Women who smoke are more likely to have cervical dysphasia,
probably because smokers have low folic-acid levels.
Recent studies have shown that women with HPV and low folic
- acid levels were five times more likely to have cervical
dysphasia. Other studies suggest that minor cervical dysphasia
can be effectively treated with large doses (more than 5
mg daily) of folic acid.
Folic
Acid and Depression
A recent study of depressed outpatients
at Massachusetts General Hospital showed that low folic-acid
levels are linked to depression. The most depressed patients
in the study had the lowest levels of folic acid - and were
the least likely to benefit from antidepressant drugs.
About
Folic Acid Supplements
A recent study of depressed outpatients
at Massachusetts General Hospital showed that low folic-acid
levels are linked to depression. The most depressed patients
in the study had the lowest levels of folic acid - and were
the least likely to benefit from antidepressant drugs.
Foliate in food is nearly 50 percent
less bioavailble than folic acid in fortified foods and
supplements. In fact, foliate is one of the few nutrients
that is more beneficial in the man-made form than the natural
form.
Foliate deficiency is one of the most
common nutrient deficiencies in the United States and can
result in megaloblastic anemia, which is characterized by
a reduced number of red blood cells. Side effects of anemia
include weakness, fatigue, headache, irritability, difficulty
concentrating, and shortness of breath.
Foliate works closely with other nutrients
such as B12. We strongly recommend two of the supplements:
You may also consider taking a B-complex
vitamin or Multivitamin that contains all necessary B vitamins
to save all the trouble and avoid being overdose in particular
vitamin. We suggest the following two brand.
Click
here for Rainbow Light 40+ Complete Multivitamin
Click
here to purchase Twinlab B-Complex vitamins 100 Caps and
save!
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