Definition
Vitamin B9, also known as folate or folic acid, is a B vitamin that plays an important role in many biological processes in the body. It is water-soluble and naturally present in many foods.
Uses
- Fetal development: Vitamin B9 deficiency during pregnancy can lead to neural tube defects in the fetus such as spina bifida. Therefore, pregnant women need to supplement this vitamin.
- Cardiovascular health: Vitamin B9 helps reduce homocysteine levels, a substance associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Cell formation: Vitamin B9 participates in the synthesis of DNA and RNA, helping new cells form and develop healthily.
- Hematopoiesis: This vitamin is necessary for the production of red blood cells, which help transport oxygen to cells in the body, preventing anemia.
- Nervous system: This vitamin plays an important role in maintaining the function of the nervous system, helping to improve memory and reduce the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Cancer prevention: Some studies show that vitamin B9 can help reduce the risk of certain cancers such as colon cancer and cervical cancer.
- Eyes: Reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration.
- Blood pressure: Helps reduce blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.
- Strengthen the immune system: Supports cell function, increases resistance.
- Treat anemia: Supplementing vitamin B9 helps treat anemia due to folate deficiency.
Vitamin B9 plays an important role in maintaining overall health. By supplementing enough vitamin B9 through a balanced diet, you can protect the health of yourself and your family.
Needs
Each person’s vitamin B9 needs are different and depend on many factors such as age, gender, health status and especially pregnant women. Specific dosages should be consulted by a doctor.
According to the CDC, the average daily dose is at least 400 mcg. Pregnant and lactating women need from 500 to 600 mcg/day.
How to supplement
Through diet
You can supplement vitamin B9 naturally and safely through foods rich in folate such as dark green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale, cabbage, broccoli), beans of all kinds (black beans, green beans, lentils), citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, grapefruit)…
Through oral tablet form
Folic acid tablets are a synthetic form of vitamin B9, often recommended for pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant to prevent neural tube defects in the fetus. In addition, many multivitamin tablets also contain folic acid.
Note: You should consult your doctor before use to get advice on the appropriate dosage and avoid drug interactions. Do not increase the dose on your own, because supplementing too much vitamin B9 can cause unwanted side effects.
Intravenous vitamin B9 supplementation (Vitamin B9 IV)
Intravenous vitamin B9 is often prescribed in special cases, when the need for this vitamin exceeds the ability to provide through diet or when the body cannot absorb enough vitamin B9 from food.
Cases that require vitamin B9 infusion include: People with severe anemia, deficient newborns, pregnant women at risk or with related diseases. Digestive, kidney, liver, and cancer diseases can lead to vitamin B9 deficiency…
When infused intravenously, vitamin B9 will go directly into the blood, helping the body absorb it quickly and achieve the desired concentration in the plasma quickly. This is especially important in emergency cases or when it is necessary to increase the concentration of vitamin B9 in the blood as quickly as possible.
Intravenous infusion allows doctors to accurately control the dosage of vitamin B9 provided to the body, ensuring safety and effective treatment.
Side effects
When taken in reasonable doses, folic acid is safe for the body. However, overdose can cause nausea, insomnia or allergic reactions such as rashes and difficulty breathing. Excess folic acid is excreted in the urine but can mask vitamin B12 deficiency, leading to irreversible nerve damage if not treated promptly.
Folic acid and vitamin B6 can increase the risk of heart attack in people with heart disease and, when combined with iron, can increase the risk of death in malaria-endemic areas.
In people with seizure disorders, high doses of folic acid can worsen seizures.
Interactions (if any)
When combined with certain medications, folic acid may cause the following reactions:
- Anticonvulsants: Taking folic acid with fosphenytoin, phenytoin, or primidone may decrease the blood levels of these medications;
- Central nervous system depression: Folic acid may decrease the effectiveness of central nervous system depressants such as barbiturates;
- Methotrexate: Folic acid may decrease the effectiveness of this medication when used to treat cancer;
- Pyrimethamine: Combining with this antimalarial medication may decrease the effectiveness of the treatment.
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