What is Folic Acid?
Folic acid is a type of B vitamin that is usually found in foods such as dried beans, peas, lentils, oranges, whole grain products, liver, asparagus, beets, broccoli, sprouts, or spinach.
Folic acid can help the body produce and maintain new cells and also helps prevent changes in DNA that can lead to cancer.
As a medicine, folic acid is used to treat folate deficiency and certain types of anemia (lack of red blood cells) caused by folate deficiency.
Folic acid is sometimes used in combination with other medications to treat pernicious, aplastic, or normocytic anemia. However, it does not treat vitamin B12 deficiency and will not prevent possible damage to the bone marrow.
Drug Trade Name: Appeton Essential Folic Acid.
About Folic Acid
- Drug Class: Multivitamins.
- Drug Category: Over-the-counter drugs.
- Indications: Helps the body produce and maintain new cells, and prevents changes in DNA that can lead to cancer.
- Pregnancy & Breastfeeding Category:
Category A
Generally acceptable. Studies in pregnant women have shown no fetal risk and it is unlikely that this drug could cause fetal harm.
- Drug Form: Tablets, capsules, and solutions.
Folic Acid Side Effects
In rare cases, some side effects may occur, including:
- Fever.
- Weakness or discomfort.
- Red skin.
- Hard to breathe.
- Skin rash or itching.
- Tightness in the chest.
- Difficulty breathing.
- A lot.
- Digestive tract disorders.
- Nervous system disorders.
- Hypersensitive.
- Anorexia.
Benefits of Folic Acid
Folic acid is useful for overcoming folic acid deficiency in the body. In addition, there are many benefits of folic acid that need to be known, such as:
- Improve Thinking Ability. Consuming folic acid increases a person’s thinking ability, especially in the elderly.
- Reduces Symptoms of Depression. Consuming folic acid regularly can maintain mental health and prevent the emergence of symptoms of depression.
- Lowering Blood Pressure. Folic acid is good to consume as a prevention or to control hypertension sufferers. Regularly consuming folic acid helps you control blood pressure.
- Prevent Pregnancy Disorders. Folic acid also needs to be consumed by pregnant women to avoid various pregnancy disorders that may occur, such as preeclampsia.
- Maintaining Heart Health. Consuming folic acid can help you maintain heart health.
Folic Acid Dosage
Prophylaxis of Neural Tube Defects in Pregnancy
- Adults: 5 mg daily starting 4 weeks before pregnancy and continuing through the first trimester.
- Use the medication orally.
Folate Deficiency Megaloblastic Anemia Disorder
- Adults: 5 mg daily for up to 4 months.
- The dose can be increased to 15 mg per day in the case of malabsorption.
- Children >1 year old are given the same dose as adults.
Folate Deficiency Megaloblastic Anemia (Parenteral)
- Adults: Up to 1 mg daily given by injection.
- Children: same as adults.
- Infants: 0.1 mg daily.
- Children <4 years up to 0.3 mg daily.
- Children >4 years 0.4 mg daily.
How to Use Folic Acid
- Take the medicine at the dose prescribed by your doctor.
- Take folic acid with a glass of water.
- Store folic acid at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Caution on Use of Folic Acid
The use of the drug needs to be monitored if the patient has a tumor that depends on folic acid.
Contraindications of Folic Acid
- Untreated pernicious anemia.
- Untreated cobalamin deficiency.
- Other causes of cobalamin deficiency.
Folic Acid Interactions
- May decrease phenytoin concentrations.
- Decreased absorption with sulfasalazine and triamterene.
- Chloramphenicol, methotrexate, and cotrimoxazole may interfere with folate metabolism.
- May increase the efficacy of lithium.
You can get folic acid intake from various types of foods that contain this nutrient. In addition, you can also take folic acid supplements.
However, make sure you consume the amount and dosage that is appropriate for your health.
