Vitamin B-9, Folic acid or Pteroylglutamic acid is one of the most critical nutrients required during gestation. Besides the critical functions this nutrient performs in those of us already here, it’s instrumental in the development of the brain and nervous system during the first three months of pregnancy.
Since many mothers miss the fact they’re pregnant until a month or more has gone by, a diet lacking in Folic Acid could predispose the unborn child to damage of the nervous system due to a deficit in development.
Due to this, I consider folic acid consumption to be of great importance during the reproductive years to insure adequate levels regardless of impending pregnancy or not. You don’t want to be caught short after the fact. Having a brilliant child myself, is such a wonderful reward for making sure we observed good nutrition, both before and during pregnancy.
Folic acid has gained more and more attention for support and development of brain and nerves. The RDA in pregnancy used to be only 400 mcg, but that level has been increased to at least 800 mcg. I believe that one major reason for this is secondary to a vast deficiency of this critical brain nutrient in our western diet.
When you think of folic acid, think of foliage. The richest sources are the deepest green leaf vegetables. There’s folic acid in many organ meats and sea foods like oysters and salmon, but the fact that it’s destroyed at a pH of 4 or less, makes it less biologically available since your stomach will try to achieve a pH of 1.8 to 2.3 when these proteins are consumed. Always try to consume your deep green veggies prior to heavy proteins.
Folic acid is essential to formation of red blood cells. It’s also necessary for growth and division of all body cells and for production of RNA and DNA. It helps build antibodies to prevent and heal infection. As with many other B vitamins, it can help prevent premature graying of hair and correct skin disorders seen in the grayish brown skin pigmentation of the elderly.
It’s vital role in pregnancy is seen in the fact that it helps prevent spontaneous abortion and difficult labor. It lowers infant death rate, and improves lactation. It’s essential in utilization of sugars and amino acids. It can act as an analgesic for pain and help prevent canker sores.
Once in the body, folic acid is converted to the biologically active form of THFA (tetrahydrofolic acid), in the presence of NADPH (niacin’s coenzyme form) and vitamin C. Too much vitamin C (ascorbic acid) increases excretion of folic acid, and one of the reasons I’m not a fan of high potency, low density vitamin supplements.
THFA participates in amino acid conversion and methylation of choline, methionine, serine, and histadine. These are required for many essential functions of metabolism.
The form of folacin most commonly found in the liver and serum is methyl folate. Methyl folate can return to the body’s pool only through a B-12 dependent pathway. If a B-12 deficiency exists, folic acid gets trapped as methyl folate and is useless to the body. Consequently, a deficiency of either vitamin results in identical symptoms. In both cases, the characteristic anemia results.
Folic acid deficiency is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies. Symptoms are similar to B-12 deficiency with megaloblastic anemia, irritability, weakness, weight loss, apathy, anorexia, dyspnea, sore tongue, headache, palpitations, forgetfulness, hostility, paranoid behavior, glossitis, gastrointestinal tract disturbances and diarrhea. Sound like this could contribute to many of the ills of our society? A good diet can change things.
Thankfully, folic acid deficiency doesn’t result in the irreversible nerve damage seen with a B-12 deficiency. Both of these are needed to maintain optimal health. If you have a serious deficit of folic acid, whole food nutrition can be an answer to correcting this. In the meantime, eat your beautiful green salads and enjoy better brain and nerve health.
Since many mothers miss the fact they’re pregnant until a month or more has gone by, a diet lacking in Folic Acid could predispose the unborn child to damage of the nervous system due to a deficit in development.
Due to this, I consider folic acid consumption to be of great importance during the reproductive years to insure adequate levels regardless of impending pregnancy or not. You don’t want to be caught short after the fact. Having a brilliant child myself, is such a wonderful reward for making sure we observed good nutrition, both before and during pregnancy.
Folic acid has gained more and more attention for support and development of brain and nerves. The RDA in pregnancy used to be only 400 mcg, but that level has been increased to at least 800 mcg. I believe that one major reason for this is secondary to a vast deficiency of this critical brain nutrient in our western diet.
When you think of folic acid, think of foliage. The richest sources are the deepest green leaf vegetables. There’s folic acid in many organ meats and sea foods like oysters and salmon, but the fact that it’s destroyed at a pH of 4 or less, makes it less biologically available since your stomach will try to achieve a pH of 1.8 to 2.3 when these proteins are consumed. Always try to consume your deep green veggies prior to heavy proteins.
Folic acid is essential to formation of red blood cells. It’s also necessary for growth and division of all body cells and for production of RNA and DNA. It helps build antibodies to prevent and heal infection. As with many other B vitamins, it can help prevent premature graying of hair and correct skin disorders seen in the grayish brown skin pigmentation of the elderly.
It’s vital role in pregnancy is seen in the fact that it helps prevent spontaneous abortion and difficult labor. It lowers infant death rate, and improves lactation. It’s essential in utilization of sugars and amino acids. It can act as an analgesic for pain and help prevent canker sores.
Once in the body, folic acid is converted to the biologically active form of THFA (tetrahydrofolic acid), in the presence of NADPH (niacin’s coenzyme form) and vitamin C. Too much vitamin C (ascorbic acid) increases excretion of folic acid, and one of the reasons I’m not a fan of high potency, low density vitamin supplements.
THFA participates in amino acid conversion and methylation of choline, methionine, serine, and histadine. These are required for many essential functions of metabolism.
The form of folacin most commonly found in the liver and serum is methyl folate. Methyl folate can return to the body’s pool only through a B-12 dependent pathway. If a B-12 deficiency exists, folic acid gets trapped as methyl folate and is useless to the body. Consequently, a deficiency of either vitamin results in identical symptoms. In both cases, the characteristic anemia results.
Folic acid deficiency is one of the most common vitamin deficiencies. Symptoms are similar to B-12 deficiency with megaloblastic anemia, irritability, weakness, weight loss, apathy, anorexia, dyspnea, sore tongue, headache, palpitations, forgetfulness, hostility, paranoid behavior, glossitis, gastrointestinal tract disturbances and diarrhea. Sound like this could contribute to many of the ills of our society? A good diet can change things.
Thankfully, folic acid deficiency doesn’t result in the irreversible nerve damage seen with a B-12 deficiency. Both of these are needed to maintain optimal health. If you have a serious deficit of folic acid, whole food nutrition can be an answer to correcting this. In the meantime, eat your beautiful green salads and enjoy better brain and nerve health.
RSS Feed