Folic acid
What is folic acid?
Folate, one of the B-group
vitamins, is also called folic acid. It plays a crucial role in early
foetal nervous system development, red blood cell maturation, as well as helping break down
proteins and
carbohydrates for use in the body.
What folic acid does for you
Folate plays a pivotal role in the correct development of a baby’s spinal cord during the three months following conception, and a deficiency of folate can lead to spina bifida. It’s also vital to the proper formation of
red blood cells and helps lower the risk of
heart disease.
How much folic acid do you need?
The current RDA for folate is 200 microgram. Women who are
pregnant or hoping to become so, should take 400 microgram in
supplement form per day.
Which foods have folic acid?
Fortified breakfast cereals, beans, green vegetables such as brussels sprouts, spinach, broccoli and lettuce, as well as chickpeas and avocado pears.
Signs of deficiency of folic acid
Apart from the obvious dangers of spina bifida in foetal development, other symptoms can include fatigue, eczema, cracked lips, anxiety, high homocystein levels, macrocytic anaemia and pale skin.
