Folates: Modern Pregnant Health Support

2020 ◽  
pp. 37-42
Author(s):  
M.V. Khaitovich ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Physiological Role ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
The Body ◽  
Folic Acid Deficiency ◽  
Vitamin B9 ◽  
Acid Deficiency ◽  
Health Support ◽  
Spinach Leaves

Folates (folic acid-based chemical compounds) got their name from the Latin “folio” - “leaf”, since they were first synthesized from spinach leaves, in which vitamin B9 is found in maximum quantities. As an important cofactor in carbon metabolism, folates are involved in the most important metabolic processes in the body, in particular, they play a key role in the synthesis of nucleotides and DNA replication. The article provides information on the physiological role of folates, their metabolism and its genetic aspects. The clinical significance of folate deficiency is examined, their sources and doses are described, and the interaction of folic acid and drugs is highlighted. Keywords: folate, metabolism, folic acid deficiency, pregnancy.

scholarly journals Folic acid – role in the body, recommendations and clinical significance

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aneta Myszczyszyn ◽  
Rafał Krajewski ◽  
Monika Ostapów ◽  
Lidia Hirnle
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Leafy Vegetables ◽  
Congenital Defects ◽  
Natural Form ◽  
Vitamin B9 ◽  
Increased Risk

AbstractIntroduction. Folic acid is a compound classified as B group vitamins. In the body it is subject to processes that transfer its inactive form into a form responsible for biological effects of folic acid, i.e. 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). It is, in particular, responsible for processes of the correct biosynthesis of purine and pyridine bases present in the formation of DNA and RNA molecules. Humans do not synthesize the endogenous form of folic acid; therefore, it is vital to supplement this vitamin in its natural form or multivitamin preparations. The most folic acid is found in the green leafy vegetables (spinach, peas, asparagus) and in offal (liver). An adequate supply of folic acid is especially indicated in pregnant women with a reduced amount of folic acid due to its use by an intensively developing foetus. The recommended dose of folic acid during this period is 0.4 mg/24h and this dose varies depending on the patient’s and her family’s medical history. The updated state of knowledge on the role of vitamin B9 in the body has been presented. The importance of its supplementation in specific clinical cases was analyzed.Summary. Many studies indicate an important role of the folic acid in the prevention of congenital defects of the nervous, cardiovascular and urogenital systems. Its deficiency increases the risk of complications in pregnancy, such as recurrent miscarriages, pre-eclampsia or postpartum haemorrhage. For this reason, a prophylactic folic acid supplementation is recommended, in women with increased risk of its deficiency, in particular.

Gestational folic acid-deficiency alters embryonic eye development: possible role of basement membrane proteins in eye malformations

Nutrition ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 111250
Author(s):  
Ouafa Sijilmassi ◽  
Aurora Del Río Sevilla ◽  
Estela Maldonado Bautista ◽  
María del Carmen Barrio Asensio
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Membrane Proteins ◽  
Basement Membrane ◽  
Eye Development ◽  
Folic Acid Deficiency ◽  
Basement Membrane Proteins ◽  
Acid Deficiency

scholarly journals Does Folic Acid Protect Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease from Complications?

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 4036
Author(s):  
Alicja Ewa Ratajczak ◽  
Aleksandra Szymczak-Tomczak ◽  
Anna Maria Rychter ◽  
Agnieszka Zawada ◽  
Agnieszka Dobrowolska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Bowel Disease ◽  
Folic Acid ◽  
Bowel Disease ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Folic Acid Deficiency ◽  
Osteoporosis Prevention ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Vitamin B9 ◽  
Acid Deficiency ◽  
Inflammatory Bowel

Folic acid, referred to as vitamin B9, is a water-soluble substance, which participates in the synthesis of nucleic acids, amino acids, and proteins. Similarly to B12 and B6, vitamin B9 is involved in the metabolism of homocysteine, which is associated with the MTHFR gene. The human body is not able to synthesize folic acid; thus, it must be supplemented with diet. The most common consequence of folic acid deficiency is anemia; however, some studies have also demonstrated the correlation between low bone mineral density, hyperhomocysteinemia, and folic acid deficiency. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) frequently suffer from malabsorption and avoid certain products, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, which constitute the main sources of vitamin B9. Additionally, the use of sulfasalazine by patients may result in folic acid deficiency. Therefore, IBD patients present a higher risk of folic acid deficiency and require particular supervision with regard to anemia and osteoporosis prevention, which are common consequences of IBD.

scholarly journals Folates: Key Nutrients to Remember

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Gourchala Freha ◽  
Mihoub Fatma ◽  
Henchiri Cherifa
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Macrocytic Anemia ◽  
Folic Acid Supplementation ◽  
Intestinal Lumen ◽  
Folic Acid Deficiency ◽  
Hydrogen Atoms ◽  
Rapid Multiplication ◽  
Vitamin B9 ◽  
Acid Deficiency ◽  
Pteroylglutamic Acid

Folic acid or vitamin B9 or pteroylglutamic acid, is a relatively simple molecule with two characteristics; firstly, it must be reduced by 2 or 4 hydrogen atoms to be metabolically active which makes it sensitive to oxidation and must be protected by ascorbic acid, secondly it may include in addition to the constituent residues of the molecule, 1-7 glutamate residue at one of its ends. These polyglutamate forms that make up the largest share of food folate, must be deconjugated by a specific enzyme present in the intestinal lumen before being absorbed in the jejunum. It is in the methylated form after passing through the enterocyte it is transported in the blood, excreted in bile and reabsorbed. It must be demethylated to integrate folic cell cycle and methyl transfer, that allows the synthesis of methionine (only possible in the presence of vitamin B12), purine, serine and especially thymidylic acid, constitutive DNA. As a methyl donor that plays a fundamental role in cerebral and nervous metabolism. Folates are involved in cell division thus; any folic acid deficiency causes a slowdown in rapid multiplication systems which may lead to red blood cell disorders (macrocytic anemia), immunity, and neural tube defects, in addition to physiological disorders (cardiovascular, cancer ...). Folic acid supplementation appears to allow the correction of these disorders.

FOLIC-ACID DEFICIENCY IN PREGNANCY

The Lancet ◽  
1959 ◽  
Vol 274 (7110) ◽  
pp. 1033-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.H. Francis ◽  
J.S. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Folic Acid ◽  
Folic Acid Deficiency ◽  
Acid Deficiency ◽  
In Pregnancy
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