Toward the middle of the 1900s, a compound called folic acid was synthesized to mimic a compound in the pteroylgutamate family, known as Folate. Folate is found naturally in foods such as kale, spinach and other leafy greens, but folic acid does not exist in nature and must be artificially created. This artificial substance had never before been used in the human diet, but in 1998 the Food and Drug Agency legislated that widely consumed products such as breads, cereals, and many other commercial grains be fortified with this compound. The driving force for this legislation came as a result of the wide spread prevalence of neural tube defects, spinabifida and other developmental issues resulting from deficiency. Although Folate is widely …show more content…
Although Folate has been used for 40 years to successfully reduce the risk of neural tube defects and related issues, there are still lingering concerns about its safety such as the masking effect it may have on populations at risk for or already deficient in vitamin B12. The recommended amount of Folate intake based on the RDAs is set at around 400mcg DFE – 600mcg DFE depending on gender and pregnancy status.1 This very level was set in order to achieve a status that prevents deficiency in the general population and neural tube defects in infants, while remaining low enough to avoid the potential masking effect Folate can have upon B12. Folate amounts higher than 5000mcg certainly can alleviate megaloblastic anemia when the presumed cause of anemia is a Folate deficiency.1 However, if Folate is not the underlying deficiency, these high levels can also attract medical attention away from a B12 deficiency, allowing neurological damage to become permanent. These risks extend further into the realm of neurological function due to the role of Folate and B12 as cofactors in the CNS, where high levels of Folate and low levels of B12 could result in reduced Methionine and elevated Homocysteine concentrations. Methionine plays a vital role in numerous methylation reactions throughout the body that are essential to the
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,
In the 1800s, there was a disease called pernicious anemia. Pernicious anemia was affecting in older people and death occurred within two to five years. In 1926, George Richards Minot discovered the cure for pernicious anemia was nutrients in liver, which was the previous treatment for this disease, and that it was absence of nutrients. This resulted in the seclusion of a vitamin which we now call vitamin B₁₂. George Minot along with William Murphy and George Whipple received a Nobel Prize in 1934 for their discovery, though they were not the first to propose that it was a lack of nutrients.
12. The effect on the blood folate levels were that the exposed group had lower levels of folate left in the blood.
Due to the loss of muscle mass, protein adequacy is also a problem in older adults because it is not advised to increase protein intake. Limited protein intake may result in vitamin A, C, D, calcium, iron, zinc, and other deficiencies (Grodner, 2012). Overall, Theresa’s small nutrient intake can result in many nutrient deficiencies.
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
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.,
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
14. Dietary supplements do not require government approval before entering the market, and manufacturers alone decide whether their products are safe and effective.
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
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
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
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.
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
I noted deficiencies in a number of vitamins in the January study. Calcium was only 0% of target levels, and potassium was well less than half of target levels. My sodium count was with the acceptable range, but just barely. I had deficiencies of iron, copper, and magnesium, but did acquire my recommended intake of phosphorous, selenium and zinc. I fell short on Vitamin A, Vitamin C, E, K, and