folic acid

Examples of folic acid in the following topics:

• Spina Bifida

  • However, dietary supplementation with folic acid prior to pregnancy has been shown to be helpful in reducing the incidence of spina bifida.
  • Natural sources of folic acid include whole grains, fortified breakfast cereals, dried beans, leafy vegetables, and fruits.

• RBC Life Cycle

  • In the last stages of development, the immature RBCs absorb iron, Vitamin B12, and folic acid.
  • These dietary nutrients that are necessary for proper synthesis of hemoglobin (iron) and normal RBC development (B12 and folic acid).

• Anencephaly

  • Recent studies have shown that the addition of folic acid to the diet of women of child-bearing age may significantly reduce, although not eliminate, the incidence of neural tube defects.
  • It is recommended that all women of child-bearing age consume 0.4 mg of folic acid daily, especially those attempting to conceive or who may possibly conceive, as this can reduce the risk to 0.03%.
  • A physician may prescribe even higher dosages of folic acid(4 mg/day) for women who have had a previous pregnancy with a neural tube defect.

• Abscesses and Ulcers

  • The exact cause of many aphthous ulcers is unknown, but citrus fruits (e.g. oranges and lemons), physical trauma, stress, lack of sleep, sudden weight loss, food allergies, immune system reactions, and deficiencies in vitamin B12, iron, and folic acid may contribute to their development.

• Teratogens

  • ., insufficient folic acid).

• Malabsorption of Nutrients

  • These symptoms are due to impaired water, carbohydrate, and electrolyte absorption; or irritation from unabsorbed fatty acids.
  • Many patients suffer from swelling or edema from loss of protein; anemia (commonly from vitamin B12); folic acid and iron deficiency presenting as fatigue and weakness; and muscle cramps from decreased vitamin D and calcium absorption.
  • Cholestyramine or other bile acid sequestrants help reduce diarrhea in bile acid malabsorption.

• Sickle-Cell Disease

  • These patients will take a 1 mg dose of folic acid daily for life.

• Lipids: Sources, Uses in the Body, and Dietary Requirements

  • Humans and other mammals require fatty acids such as linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid) and alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid), because they cannot be synthesized from simple precursors in the diet.
  • Both omega-6 and omega-3 are 18-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids that differ in the number and position of their double bonds.
  • Most vegetable oils (safflower, sunflower, and corn oils) are rich in linoleic acid.
  • Fish oils are especially rich in the longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) .
  • Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid.

• Proteins: Sources, Uses in the Body, and Dietary Requirements

  • Most microorganisms and plants can biosynthesize all 20 standard amino acids , while animals (including humans) must obtain some of the amino acids from the diet.
  • The amino acids that an organism cannot synthesize on its own are referred to as essential amino acids.
  • Key enzymes that synthesize certain amino acids are not present in animals.
  • Some ingested amino acids are used for protein biosynthesis, while others are converted to glucose through gluconeogenesis, or fed into the citric acid cycle.
  • Amino acids are also an important dietary source of nitrogen.

• The Role of the Kidneys in Acid-Base Balance

  • The kidneys help maintain acid-base balance by excreting hydrogen ions into the urine and reabsorbing bicarbonate from the urine.
  • Urine testing is important because it can detect acid-base imbalances.
  • For instance, uncontrolled diabetes results in highly acidic urine.
  • Acid–base imbalances that overcome this system can be compensated in the short term by changing the rate of ventilation.
  • The kidneys also play an important role in maintaining acid-base homeostasis by regulating the pH of the blood plasma.