Folate is a necessary vitamin part of the B complex group, not synthesized de novo, but consumed through foods such as leafy green vegetables (Djukic, 2007). In the developing fetus, folate transport across the placenta is regulated by reduced-folate-carriers and folate receptor proteins, which allow large folate requirements needed for high cell proliferation rates to be met. Both also show an increased pattern of expression during neural tube closure, indicating that folate has a crucial role in CNS development (Djukic, 2007). Fleming and Copp (1998) demonstrated this by successfully treating mice embryos predisposed to neural tube defects using folic acid supplements. The mechanism of its action on neural tube development is currently still not fully understood. However it is known that folate is crucial for
Folate, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12: Inadequate intake can cause cardiovascular disease, stroke, fractures, neurological declination, anemia, and/or nerve damage
12. The effect on the blood folate levels were that the exposed group had lower levels of folate left in the blood.
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
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.
How can anyone have a deficiency? Despite advances in vitamin research over the last century, millions of people around the globe still suffer from vitamin deficiency diseases. In the United States, the plentiful and
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,
Deficiency of the micronutrient folate continues to significantly affect the health of pregnant women and their children, globally. A great cause of concern with folate deficiency is the occurrence of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) in new-born babies due to abnormal early foetal development. According to Greene et al. (2016), NTDs are abnormalities to the formation of the brain, spinal cord or related structures from early foetal development. The rate of the prevalence of NTDs varies between countries from 0.3 to 199.4 cases per 10,000 births. In Australia specifically, approximately 19.5 cases of NTDs occurred per 10,000 cases between 2009 and 2010 (Zaganjoy et al.,
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
We need to supplement minimum 400 microgram folic acid before and during pregnancy to prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine called neural tube defects. Dietary sources are fortified cereals, leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, dried
In the early 1900s, dietary fat was viewed simply as a source of calories, interchangeable with carbohydrates. But in 1929 and 1930, George and Mildred Burr discovered that fatty acids were critical to health through punctilious analyses of rats fed special diets. If fatty acids were missing in the diet, a deficiency syndrome ensued and often led to death (Asbmb.org. 2016). Fatty acids rarely occur as free molecules in nature but are usually found as components of many complex lipid molecules such as fats and phospholipids. Biological fatty acids are composed only of hydrocarbon chain which is carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the proportion of 76%, 12.6% and 11.3% respectively with one terminal carboxyl group (COOH). Fatty acids are aliphatic
One of the most vital nutrients for good health is vitamin B12. It comes from animal foods and is responsible for big things such as the synthesis of DNA and the sheath that protects the nerve cells. There are lots of things you could be doing to deplete the essential B12 your body needs, including eating an unhealthy diet, smoking, and drinking, but there are also things like pregnancy and growing older that can be affecting how much B12 your body is getting.
1992, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended that all women who are in child bearing age consume at least 400mg of folic acid every day. Studies have shown that women who consume appropriate amounts of folic acid than their daily diets can decrease the possibility of their child being born with spina bifidia by fifty to seventy percent. The U.S. Public
Folate is a natural occurrence in foods such as beans and pulses (e.g. lentils and chickpeas), leafy green vegetables, broccoli, spinach, tuna and oranges (Tiran, 2000). Some foods are also fortified with folic acid such as cereals and bread. Late in the 1990’s United State scientists came to the realisation that despite the availability of folic acid in supplements as well as foods available in the supermarkets, people were still finding it a challenge to meet their daily folate requirement; with this in mind the United States of America implemented the folate fortification program (Latimes.com). For women of childbearing age, folic acid consumption needed to be increased so in January of 1998 the United States food and drug administration authorised a folic acid fortification of all products containing grain. The