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Folic Acid SupplementsFolic acid supplements are critical to good health and specifically to a healthy cardiovascular system. Deficiency is common because folic acid is easily destroyed by bright lights and cooking. • water-soluble B Complex vitamin • most common nutrient to be deficient in human diet • absorption hindered by smoking, alcohol, sulfa-based drugs, and oral contraceptives • acts as coenzyme with B12 and C to break down and utilize protein • essential for blood formation, especially red and white blood cells • involved in biosynthesis of nucleic acids including RNA/DNA for cell growth • together with B6 and B12, 1000 mcg of folic acid per day keep homocysteine levels (an independent factor for heart disease) in the safe range Lancet 1995 • There was good research being conducted on homocysteine levels and cardiovascular/heart disease until the Pharmaceutical Industry created cholesterol lowering dugs and all the research money went there to support the industry – cholesterol lowering drugs can be patented and big money can be made – B6, B12 and folic acid cannot be patented so no big money to be made from research on how they lower homocysteine and support cardiovascular/heart health • Insist that your doctor authorize tests to measure and monitor your homocysteine
essential for: - brain function - mental/emotional health - with B12 to prevent anemia • protects liver • easily destroyed by: - heat – cooking - bright lights – as in bright store display lights over leafy green vegetables, normally a good source - being left at room temperature for long time – refrigeration necessary Pregnancy
• deficiency in mother can cause neural tube defects in fetus • taking folic acid supplements can prevent this JAMA 1989 and 1993. Also Lancet 1991. • important that it is taken beginning at least 6 weeks before conception • ideally it is taken all the time
RDA • Adults 400 mcg/day • Teens 400 mcg/day • Children 1-4 years 150 mcg/day; 4+ years 200 mcg/day
Dosage by Supplements As Folic Acid: • Adults 1000 mcg/day • Teens 800 mcg/day • Children 1-4 years 200 mcg/day; 4+ years 400 mcg/day
Toxicity • no known toxicity
More Information You will find lots more information, including full citations and summaries of studies from medical journals in my book It’s About Health. But you can also continue to surf the 200 free pages of this website for lots of valuable, evidence-based information.
It’s About Health
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• fetus depletes mother’s reserves of folic acid
