Friday, January 22, 2010

Folic Acid in Prenatal Vitamins

Folic Acid in Prenatal Vitamins
Folic acid, one of the most important components should be taken by women before pregnancy, during pregnancy and even after pregnancy. Folic acid or folate belongs to the Vitamin B family and is active in dispersing a disease called spina bifida, a condition characterized by incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube. Other defects that can accompany in the absence of folic acid are cleft palate, cleft lip, limb defects, and low birth weight in children. Now you may ask why only folic acid. Studies have shown that that folic acid can help prevent the above the above mentioned diseases. Folic acid is water soluble and easily flashes out of the system within a little time after taking it.

For the normal adult about four hundred micrograms of folic acid is enough but pregnant and lactating women require more at about micrograms. But this should be excluded from the folic acid that you get along with your daily intake of food. That is why folic acid is considered to be an important part of dietary regimen.

Anemia, a common disease which often occurs during pregnancy can be warded off with the help of folic acid. It is quite useful in the formation of red blood cells which depletes when the patient is suffering from anemia. It also discourages in the production of epinephrine and serotonin.

Promise Prenatal Vitamins contains folic acid, one of the vital components for pregnancy along with a host of other vitamins and minerals. Include Promise prenatal vitamins along with a healthy and balanced menu.

Folic acid is needed by the body for the creation and maintenance of DNA and RNA. Thus its serves as an essential part of the nutrients needed during the intensive process of pregnancy. Folic acid is also helpful in the creation of red blood cells so it can help prevent anemia, and aids in the production of nor epinephrine and serotonin and it helps to keep a compound called homocysteine from reaching high levels in your blood.

The upper limit for folic acid is set at one thousand mcg. But this is due to the fact that folic acid has a tendency to mask the symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency as this deficiency usually presents initially with anemia. A healthy young woman should have no fear of B12 deficiency, except unless you are a vegetarian and don’t eat dairy products.

Pregnancy is a special event in a woman’s life. Pregnancy and the life of the unborn child can be very precarious for a number of reasons, not least of which is a pregnant woman lacking vitamins.

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