Folic Acid (Vitamin B9) For Prevention of Birth Defects
Folic acid, often called Vitamin B9, is one of the vitamins that make up the Vitamin B complex.
It's also known as folacin and folate and this essential nutrient serves the body in many ways.
While important for all age groups, folic acid is especially necessary to pregnant women and important to those entering their elder years.
Folic acid is important from the very first moment of life.
In fact, a woman should immediately begin to monitor her folic acid consumption as soon as she's even thinking about getting pregnant, making sure that she meets the suggested daily intake levels.
Because this nutrient is vital to the development of the baby from the moment of conception, most health care professionals recommend that every woman of childbearing age make sufficient folic acid consumption a nutritional priority.
It can help to prevent serious birth defects in the brain and spine, called neural tube defects. Spinal Bifida is one of the more well known of these defects.
These types of defects usually occur within the first few weeks of development, which means they happen before the average woman even realizes she is pregnant.
Other important functions of folic acid, in addition to assisting in the formation of genetic material in each and every cell of the body, within the body include the formation of red blood cells essential to transporting oxygen and nutrients throughout the body and tissue growth.
Folic acid, according to recent research, has been associated with such health benefits as protection against diseases as some cancers, Alzheimer's disease and heart diseases. It is also thought to offer a certain degree of protection from strokes.
Deficiencies in folic acid can cause a myriad of health problems.
Among them are inflammation of the tongue, peptic ulcers, ulcerations in the mouth and chronic diarrhea. Folic acid deficiency can also contribute to certain kinds of anemia.
Folic acid is a water soluble nutrient, which means it flows out of the body with the urine and the body's supplies must be replenished daily. However, despite all its known benefits, many people fail to meet the recommended daily intake levels, which can have real health consequences.
Because of its great importance in the reproductive system and the protections it offers, as well as its role in other essential bodily functions, it is a good idea to consider taking dietary supplements to ensure that the recommended daily intake levels are met.
Particularly in the realm of potential birth defects of such a serious and debilitating nature, better safe than sorry should be the philosophy when it comes to folic acid daily intake levels.
Folic acid supplements can offer a safe and sure means of meeting the body's daily requirements of this essential and protective nutrient.
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