Overview
In 1932, a British physician, Wils, who worked in India for many years, found that some pregnant women who suffered from megaloblastic anemia did not experience improvement with a purified liver cell extract. However, these women recovered completely after consuming the crude extract. From here, Wils concluded that during the purification some important factor was determined that caused recovery. This substance was soon isolated and was named - the Wils factor. It was later called Folic M. In 1941, it was found that spinach and parsley this drug are rich in this substance - therefore it was renamed folic acid (in Latin, folium is a leaf).
Mechanism of action
Once in the body, vitamin B9 turns into tetrahydrofolate, which serves as an integral component of many Folic, and also participates in a number of biochemical reactions, for example, in protein metabolism. As a result, amino acids, epinephrine, and some other factors necessary for the formation of proteins are synthesized in the body. Also vitamin b9 has an effect similar Acid estrogen - determines the correct development of a woman's reproductive system.
It is well known that the first and most important stage of the division of any cell is the division of a DNA molecule. It is in the process of DNA replication that vitamin B9 takes an active part. In addition, it plays an important role in the synthesis of RNA, amino acids, improves the absorption of iron. Therefore, a lack of folic acid is primarily dangerous for rapidly dividing cells.
The mood also depends on the level of folic acid. She takes part in the metabolism of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and adrenaline, which have a significant effect on the functioning of the nervous system.
Folic acid stimulates appetite and is involved in the release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
Folic acid requirement
Folic Acid and Pregnancy
Daily maintenance of a normal level of folic acid several months before pregnancy helps to reduce the risk of congenital malformations of the fetus. Clinical studies have shown that 80% of malformations can be prevented if a woman begins to make up for vitamin B deficiency.9 even before pregnancy.
In the Russian Federation, it is generally accepted that the need of pregnant women without symptoms of a lack of this micronutrient is 0.4 mg per day. During breastfeeding, the need is 0.6 mg per day.
During pregnancy, a woman's body spends much more folic acid than before pregnancy. Vitamin B9 It is not stored in reserve, so it is important to receive it daily from external sources. It is very important to maintain the required level of folic acid in the first trimester when the fetal nervous system develops.
The essential role of vitamin B9 for the fetus, this is the development of the neural tube. She also takes part in the renewal and mitosis of the cells of the mother’s body, in particular the cells of the internal organs, which must be constantly updated.
Already in the second week of pregnancy, the brain begins to actively develop in the embryo. It was at this time that even a short deficiency of vitamin B9 threatens with serious, often irreparable consequences. Since this micronutrient is necessary in the process of mitosis, which is extremely important for rapidly dividing and developing cells (these include, in the first place, neurons and other cells of the nervous tissue), its lack, first of all, affects the developing nervous system.
Folic acid is involved in the production of basic blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets), which is important for both the mother and the fetus.
For the normal course of pregnancy, maintaining the health of the woman and the fetus, doctors recommend starting taking folic acid in the form of tablets 2-3 months before the planned pregnancy, and continuing until the birth. When using vitamin B9 it is necessary to adhere to the doses recommended by the attending physician, since an excess of this micronutrient is as dangerous as its deficiency.
Postpartum depression, apathy, loss of strength, lead to a decrease in the amount of breast milk. A deficiency of folic acid during lactation leads to its insufficient concentration in milk and, subsequently, to its insufficient consumption by the child. With a lack of vitamin B9 in the first years of life, a child may experience anemia, insufficient mass gain, psychomotor retardation, weak immunity, impaired bowel function.
Vitamin B9 - this is the only micronutrient whose role during pregnancy is not underestimated even by opponents of synthetic vitamin preparations and medications in general. Therefore, even if you avoid any medications during pregnancy, do not give up a course of vitamin B9, at least for the purpose of prevention - this will save you and your child from a number of unjustified risks. Although sometimes it is necessary to compare the dosage prescribed by the doctor with the body's needs for folic acid.
Folic Acid Deficiency and Its Consequences
Heat treatment may result in the loss of up to 90% of vitamin B9, part of raw foods. For example, when frying meat, up to 95% of vitamin B is destroyed.9, when cooking meat and vegetable products - from 70 to 90%, when cooking eggs - about half.
Vitamin B deficiency9 may develop due to its low content in the diet, impaired absorption of micronutrients in the intestine, or with an increase Blackmores the need for this substance (pregnancy, lactation).
A common cause of this hypovitaminosis is the regular use of alcoholic beverages.
Folic acid deficiency is the most common symptom in pregnant women and children in their first year of life. Vitamin B deficiency9 the fetus Blackmores as a result of its shortage in the mother's body, and in infants - due to its insufficient content in breast milk.
Folic acid deficiency in the body of a pregnant woman can serve as a factor in the whole a number of serious violations:
- miscarriage;
- detachment of the placenta;
- miscarriage;
- congenital malformations;
- mental retardation;
- malformation of the neural tube;
- hydrocephalus;
- anencephaly;
- hernia of the brain;
- spina bifida (in the fetus);
- malformations of the circulatory system;
- cleft lip or cleft palate;
- preeclampsia;
- anemia.
Symptoms of Vitamin B Deficiency
9 may occur after 8-30 days, depending on the diet. The first symptoms of this hypovitaminosis are loss of strength, nervousness and poor appetite. Do not forget about replenishing vitamin B deficiency
9 during breastfeeding, as the body maintains the necessary level of this vitamin in milk, even to the detriment of itself. Therefore, with a lack of folic acid in the diet of a nursing mother, the above symptoms often occur that increase postpartum depression.
Vitamin B deficiency9 not always accompanied by clear symptoms. However, according to the results of studies, a lack of folic acid is present in 20-100% of people, depending on the place of residence. This is one of the most common hypovitaminosis. However, even in the absence of certain clinical symptoms, the likelihood of a heart attack and stroke increases significantly, immunity decreases.
Folic acid deficiency often leads to the development of pernicious anemia in premature babies. Increased Vitamin B Demand9 occurs with a number of pathologies: leukemia, hemolytic anemia, chronic infectious diseases, carcinomatosis.
First of all, with a lack of vitamin B9 megaloblastic anemia develops. With this type of anemia, not only does the content of red blood cells in the blood drop, but their activity is also disturbed, since most of them do not mature in the bone marrow. If this does not compensate for the lack of folic acid, symptoms such as loss of appetite, nervousness, loss of strength develop. Later, vomiting, diarrhea, alopecia join. Possible morphological disorders of the skin, the appearance of ulcers in the oral cavity and pharynx. If treatment is not started in time, megaloblastic anemia can lead to death.
