Folic Acid In Patients: Article Analysis

12. The effect on the blood folate levels were that the exposed group had lower levels of folate left in the blood.

22. All of the following types of drugs can interfere with the body's use of folate EXCEPT:

Explain which nutrients are encouraged during pregnancy (including DHA, iron, and folate) and which should be limited (certain types of fish) and why REF: 253

There are certain activities women at the end of the second trimester and beginning of third trimester can do in order to ensure healthy fetal development, which later contributes to healthy child development. The first suggested activity could be the intake of prenatal vitamins, especially folic acid, which is essential for proper growth and development in the fetal stage (American Pregnancy Association, 2012). This can be achieved through taking synthetic multivitamins specifically designed for pregnant women as well as ensuring a healthy diet full of colorful fruits and vegetables. Developmentally, folic acid intake during pregnancy is critical in order to prevent neural tube defects in the developing fetus, which would lead to physical and psychological issues in childhood (Heseker, 2011).

In Canada, a clinical study by De Wals et al was performed to assess whether or not folic acid fortification has an effect on the recurrence of NTDs (neural tube defects), especially on upper and lower birth defects called spina bifida (De Wals et al., 2008). The study was performed in three different regions in Canada: the eastern, western and central provinces (De Wals et al., 2008). Furthermore, the population of the study was conducted on three different types of births which were livebirths, stillbirths, and termination of pregnancies, and the study was carried out through three periods included prefortification, partial fortification and full fortifications (De Wals et al., 2008). The researchers followed the scientific investigation

However, absorption cannot occur in the absence of IF. Once in the circulation B12 binds to a transport protein and is taken to the liver, bone marrow, and other proliferating cells. Most individuals with normal absorption have no issue acquiring the needed daily amount. The cause of Malabsorption of both folate and B12 is from lack of IF, gastric surgery, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and hyperthyroidism (Buttaro, Trybulski, Polgar Bailey, Sandberg-Cook, 2013). Healthy adults may consider taking supplemental crystalline vitamin B12 (Stabler, 2013). However, treatment is not necessary for asymptomatic anemia. Deficiency related to IF indicates a need for 1000 mcg of B12 intramuscular injections weekly for eight weeks and then monthly for life. Treatment for macrocytic anemia resulting from folate insufficiency is 1 mg of folic acid PO daily until the patient achieves an adequate hemoglobin level and indefinitely if patient has an underlying illness or an inadequate diet (Buttaro, Trybulski, Polgar Bailey, Sandberg-Cook,

Prenatal vitamins are recommended to prevent birth defects. A study from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill published in 2009 found that women who took vitamins before or during pregnancy had a 57 percent lower risk of miscarriage compared to women who did not take vitamins. If these pregnant women would have realized it sooner they could’ve taken prenatal vitamins to prevent it. Lack of prenatal care, being underweight or overweight, and teens under 17 years old have a greater risk of having a miscarriage.

And another moral that you may learn from hemochromatosis is moderation. There is a point where a plethora of a good nutrient may actually be harmful, such in the case of hemochromatosis. However, the fact that scientists discovered an overload of iron may be dangerous could lead to new studies of nutrient overload. A rare disease known as hypervitaminosis D is caused by the toxicity of vitamin D (The Clinical Resource for Cellular Nutrition & Trace Mineral Analysis). As a future research potential, we can explore other diseases such as hemochromatosis and hypervitaminosis

(2016) recommends receiving 400 µg of synthetic folic acid daily from vitamin supplements, fortified grains and other

Folic acid plays many important roles in the body. There is no doubting that it is essential. The reason that we need a constant stream of it is because it is not stored in large quantities in the body. It is water soluble. Fat soluble vitamins are stored for longer in our system. When ingested, the body uses what it can and the rest comes out in urine, in very little time the body will need more. We discussed how pregnant women get a proven benefit, and studies continue on its role in reducing risks of other diseases, but regardless of what additional benefits are found, it is clear that without folic acid in our bodies, we would not be alive. Folic acid aids in the production of red blood cells and the synthesis of DNA and RNA. Folate even has a role in the digestive system! It works with vitamins B12 and C to help the body digest and synthesize proteins. Lastly, folic acid helps tissues grow and cells function, it is an integral part of the body working as it should.

do not get enough folic acid may be at risk of having a baby with a

Leucovorin is a racemic mixture of the diastereoisomers of the 5-formyl derivative of tetrahydrofolic acid. The biologically active compound of the mixture is the (-)-L-isomer, known as Citrovorum factor, or (-)-folinic acid. Leucovorin does not require reduction by the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase in order to participate in reactions utilizing folates as a source of “one-carbon” moieties. Following oral administration, Leucovorin is rapidly absorbed and enters the general body pool of reduced folates. The increase in plasma and serum folate activity seen after oral administration of Leucovorin is predominantly due to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate.

In Australia, the reasonableness and effectiveness of folic acid being mandatorily fortified to support healthy pregnancy when considering the occurrence of NTDS in Australian children due to the amount their mothers have consumed of folic acid during pregnancy. The main purpose for creating a mandatory policy to include folic acid to the wheat flour of non-organic bread in Australia is to reduce the incidence of NTDs across the nation. Substantial rates of NTDs occur worldwide as significantly more folate is needed early in pregnancy than in other life stages. This early stage of pregnancy is often when women are unaware that they are pregnant. The folate is required for the development of the embryonic neural tube, which develops into

It is a recognised certainty that nutrition is a fundamental requirement to sustain a healthy lifestyle and is also extremely valuable when recovering from an illness or an injury. Nutrients are absorbed in the body and this physiological process is essential for homeostasis and ensuring equilibrium is sustained within the body as without enough food and drink the body will not function correctly (Edwards & Thomas, 2009). This essay will provide information on folic acid and its properties, its role and the midwife’s role and responsibility in informing women in the early stages of pregnancy

Lactoferrin (Lf) is a member of a 300-500 million years old transferrin family (Teng, 2002). It is a single-chain protein of approximately 690 amino acids and a molecular weight of 77kDa (Nuijens et al., 1996). Lactoferrin (also known as lactotransferrin) was first identified in 1939 as a red protein that was present in bovine milk (Sorensen and Sorensen 1939). Lf is a whey protein found in the milk and other biological fluids (including tears, pancreatic juice, mucous, saliva, bile, genital and nasal secretions and in circulating neutrophils) and other tissues of mammals (Bellamy et al., 1992). Other members of the transferrin families are serum transferrin, ovotransferrin, melanotransferrin, and the inhibitor for carbonic anhydrase Transferrins are iron-binding blood plasma glycoproteins and their function is to control the level of free iron in biological fluids such as the ones mentioned above (Crichton and Charloteaux, 1987). Lf is produced by mucosal epithelial cells in various mammals and recent studies have shown that LF is also produced by fishes and it is the second most abundant protein in milk (Torres et al., 2006). Lf has a high iron-binding affinity and is the only transferrin which can retain iron over a wide pH range even extremely acidic pH (Aisen and Leibman., 1972). Lf has a net positive charge and its distributed in various tissue which make it a multifunctional protein. It contributes to various functions in the body such as regulating