Treatment of anemia with folic acid supplements

Folic acid (folic acid) is one of the B vitamins, one of the main functions of which is to help produce red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin (HB).

Folic acid helps produce red blood cells with the help of other nutrients such as iron, copper, vitamins B6 and B12. Red blood cells are one of the constituents of blood and are responsible for carrying oxygen from the lungs to all cells in the body. Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow and released into the bloodstream. The average lifespan of each red blood cell is 120 days, and the body needs folic acid and other nutrients to reproduce them.



Because folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, the body cannot store it and needs to receive it daily through nutrition or supplements.

Another role of folic acid is to reduce the amino acid homocysteine. High levels of homocysteine ​​increase the risk of miscarriage in pregnant women and heart attack in other people. Some research shows that consuming as much folic acid as a woman reduces the risk of breast cancer.

Amino acid metabolism:

Our bodies use amino acids to make proteins, which are the main building blocks of most cells and tissues in the body.

The conversion of amino acids to other chemicals is done with the help of folic acid, for example the conversion of homocysteine ​​to methionine is one of the most important examples of folic acid-dependent amino acid metabolism.



Iron metabolism and its relationship with folic acid:

Iron is the core of red blood cells and hemoglobin. Folic acid, with the help of other nutrients such as copper and vitamin B12, converts iron from the Ferric form to the Ferrous form, without acid. The body's follicles cannot use iron to make blood. In addition to anemia, folic acid deficiency causes the accumulation and deposition of iron in the liver and other tissues of the body. If your doctor prescribes iron tablets to treat anemia, you should take enough folic acid and vitamin B12 with it.

Other roles of folic acid include:

Helps produce DNA and RNA: DNA and RNA molecules play an important role in storing genetic information.

Energy production: Folic acid along with other vitamins are needed for the activity of the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands are two round glands located on top of each kidney and have very important functions in the body such as energy production, coping with stress, regulation. They are in charge of the digestive system and the sexual system.



The body needs folic acid:

Children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 18 need 200 micrograms of folic acid daily.

Adults over the age of 18 need 400 micrograms daily and pregnant women need 800 to 1000 micrograms (1 mg) of folic acid per day.

Food sources containing folic acid (folate)

In foods, a form of folic acid called folate is found and its best sources are:

Oranges, broccoli, spinach, grapefruit, strawberries, legumes, especially beans, liver, brewer's yeast, whole grain cereals, bananas and eggs



What causes folic acid deficiency in the body:

Alcohol consumption, pregnancy, blood diseases such as thalassemia, inflammation, internal bleeding in the stomach and gastrointestinal tract, heavy menstruation in women, use of some drugs such as: aspirin, anticonvulsants, birth control pills, sedation or blood donation And type 2 diabetes is one of the factors that cause folic acid deficiency in the body.

Symptoms of folic acid deficiency:

The most important sign of folic acid deficiency is anemia, which is accompanied by symptoms such as paleness, fatigue and weakness, palpitations and dizziness. In a CBC blood test, low levels of red blood cells (RBCs) and hemoglobin (HB) are signs of anemia.



Folic acid and pregnancy:

Folic acid is needed for the production of new cells and its consumption is especially important in the first weeks of pregnancy when the fetus's brain and spinal cord are forming. Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy, in addition to increasing the risk of miscarriage, may cause defects in the fetal nervous system and brain activity.

Folic acid and its relationship with depression:

Some studies suggest that low levels of folic acid in the body are associated with depression. Most depressed people are deficient or have low levels of folic acid in various studies conducted by research groups.

Medical researchers have also found that depressed people who do not respond positively to antidepressant medications are deficient in folic acid deficiency.

Aging-related diseases such as dementia:

A 2007 study published in The Lancet Medical Journal found that older people who consumed 800 mg of folic acid daily for three years had better memory and learning abilities than others. Also, these people are less prone to problems such as dementia, hearing loss and vision problems.


Folic Acid Supplements

Some medical researchers believe that the body uses folic acid (a form found in supplements) better than folate (a form found in food), so it is recommended that pregnant women take 800 to 1000 micrograms a day. Use folic acid supplements from a few weeks before pregnancy until delivery.

Consumption of 400 micrograms of folic acid per day for adults and 200 micrograms for adolescents and children 6 to 18 years old as a dietary supplement can be beneficial.