What are folic acid tablets for? Folic acid for women

This acid itself is biologically inactive and is not suitable for medical purposes. obtained artificially in the form of tablets or vitamin ampoules. It is found in sufficient quantities in fresh vegetables (spinach, beans, beets, tomatoes), meat, liver, eggs, etc.

The acid is converted by the body's cells into a biologically active form called tetrahydrofolate, which is contained in enzymes and thanks to which the human body produces amino acids.

You can learn more about folic acid and food products with which the body receives part of the daily requirement of this vitamin.

Purpose of folic acid

Taking folic acid is necessary for:

• normal functioning of blood cells;
• DNA synthesis;
• the process of formation of erythrocytes and normoblasts;
• treatment of macrocytic, megaloblastic, hyperchromic anemia;
• effective antimicrobial therapy;
• preventive treatment during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

This acid also promotes the formation of enzymes that have a preventive effect on the formation of tumors.

Instructions for use of folic acid

How and how much to take folic acid? On average, vitamin B9 must be taken orally for 30 days at 0.5 - 1 mg from 1 to 3 times a day for adults, and for children from 25 - 200 mcg 1 time.

Folic acid release form

As a rule, this drug is produced in tablets or powder and is sold dosage of 1 mg, 25 or 50 pieces in one package. Conventional packaging is a polymer container or a contour cell box. This drug is also produced under the name “Folic acid 9 months” for pregnant women. One tablet contains 0.4 mg and is available in 30, 60 and 90 pieces.

Vitamin B9 is also available in ampoules, good for injections and hair masks.

Production is carried out by pharmaceutical factories in different countries, both in pure form and in combination with other drugs. Depending on this it fluctuates the price of this vitamin ranges from 15-20 rubles to 200 and above. So every consumer can find a worthy alternative at an affordable price.

Indications and contraindications for the use of folic acid

Why is folic acid prescribed? For the treatment of anemia caused by a lack of vitamin B9, as well as as part of complex therapy in the presence of leukopenia or anemia that has developed while taking medications and ionizing radiation.

Folic acid is no less effective in the treatment of tropical diarrhea sprue, intestinal tuberculosis and chronic gastroenteritis.

Almost always, vitamin tablets or injections are prescribed to pregnant and lactating women to avoid the development of hypovitaminosis, which is extremely dangerous for a growing baby.

Folic acid is a fairly safe drug, but its long-term use is still not recommended - it reduces the concentration of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12) in the body. Contraindications for use are kidney disease, individual intolerance and bronchial asthma.

Folic acid dosage: how to take it correctly?

The dosage of the drug varies among different population groups. Thus, daily doses of folic acid in women, men and children vary depending on the needs of their bodies.

Folic acid for women

World medical research has shown that almost Every 2nd woman has a deficiency of vitamin B9. This is especially pronounced among those who take hormonal contraceptives or abuse alcohol.

Folic acid is especially important for women when planning pregnancy, because its insufficient amount in the mother’s body can provoke a variety of congenital defects and pathologies in the fetus. The risk of miscarriage, premature birth and placental abruption increases greatly.

There is also a very high probability of a neural tube defect, the development of cerebral hernias, hydrocephalus, anencephaly and various spinal defects. The risk of having a child diagnosed with mental retardation or mental retardation increases many times over. Pregnant women with a lack of vitamin B9 develop:

• bad feeling;
• weakness;
• dizziness;
• vomit;
• diarrhea;
• hair loss;
• Anemia may develop.

That is why, long before the wonderful moment when a woman discovers two long-awaited stripes on the test, she needs to prepare to the maximum.

Already 100 days before planning a long-awaited pregnancy and during the entire period of bearing a baby, doctors recommend consuming 0.4 to 0.8 mg of this acid every day. If this is not the first pregnancy and developmental pathologies are detected in the previous baby, the dosage of folic acid should be increased to 4 mg.

Read about the rules for taking folic acid during pregnancy.

Folic acid for men

Vitamin B9, which is responsible for the formation of new cells in the body of men affects sperm count. A lack of vitamin leads to a decrease in the quality and quantity of sperm, and sometimes even to infertility.

Also, a limited amount of vitamin B9 in the body can negatively affect the unborn child in the form of hereditary disorders - schizophrenia, epilepsy, Down syndrome. That's why, Men, like women, need to take folic acid before conceiving. within 100 days.

For teenage boys, folic acid is also necessary for the normal regulation of spermogenesis, as it is for adult men. With a lack of vitamin, boys grow much slower than their peers, their memory deteriorates, they become absent-minded, and their appetite disappears.

To obtain the required amount of vitamin you need to eat foods rich in its content, namely fresh vegetables, offal, fish, cottage cheese, cheese. Also, additional use would not be amiss: to prevent deficiency, the dosage for men is only one tablet of folic acid per day (1 mg), and for treatment, 2 to 5 tablets are prescribed.

Folic acid for children

For children's bodies vitamin B9 is especially needed during active growth from development in the womb to 3 years of age. In the first months after birth, folic acid is necessary for the growth of all organs and systems.

Children under one year old Those who are breastfed do not require additional folic acid, provided the mother has a balanced and good diet.

Depending on the age of the child, vitamin B9 is prescribed in the following quantities per day:

• from 0 to 6 months – 25 mcg
• from 6 to 12 months – 35 mcg
• from 1 to 3 years – 50 mcg
• from 3 to 6 years – 75 mcg
• from 6 to 10 – 100 mcg
• from 10 to 14 – 150 mcg
• from fourteen - 200 mcg.

One tablet contains 1 mg (1000 μg) of the vitamin, so for ease of use, parents are advised to dilute the tablet in water and measure the required amount using a measuring syringe.

Side effects and overdose of folic acid

Side effects from long-term use of this vitamin include:

• displacement of vitamin B12;
• development of pernicious anemia;
• rash, itchy skin, asthma attack (allergic reaction);
• enlargement of the epithelium in the renal tubules.

An overdose of folic acid contributes to insomnia, cramps, excessive excitability, and can also cause diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain. In such a situation, you should contact your doctor. In the future, you may need to reduce your dose of folic acid or temporarily stop taking it altogether.

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As a precursor to methionine (an essential amino acid that the body also cannot synthesize on its own), folic acid plays an important role in the synthesis of DNA and RNA, two molecules that store genetic information and are involved in cell reproduction. Folic acid is very useful when body cells require rapid growth and metabolism (blood, stomach, intestinal, oral, skin cells), as well as during periods of growth such as childhood and adolescence.

Where to find folic acid

Foods rich in folic acid are leafy vegetables. This even follows from the very name of such products. Leaf in Latin is folium. Thus, you can find folic acid mainly in green leafy vegetables (watercress, spinach, mung bean salad, which is also called lamb's grass). But don't limit yourself to just leafy foods, because vitamin B9 is also found in many other vegetables, such as dill, asparagus, carrots, broccoli and chicory.

Folic acid is also found in organ meats and legumes, such as beans, peas and soybeans. Avocados, strawberries, raspberries, and wheat germ contain quite a lot of this valuable vitamin. Brown rice and brewer's yeast contain folic acid. Unfortunately, most of this vitamin is destroyed during the cooking process, which you need to keep in mind when deciding to feed your body with it.

Because there is a strong link between folic acid deficiency and certain types of brain dysfunction or the risk of poor circulation and cardiovascular disease, some countries have decided to add folic acid to flour used in bread baking in order to correct this deficiency and allow people to get their daily dose of vitamin.

But even if your diet is good enough, getting folate through diet is rarely sufficient.

A person can obtain approximately 150 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid from food, and as a result of stress, pollution and physiological needs, the body's supply is quickly depleted, so it is considered optimal to consume at least 200 to 400 mcg to meet all the body's needs.

Folic acid and brain function

This vitamin is necessary for normal brain function, as it allows the synthesis of certain neurotransmitters, primarily norepinephrine and, as a result, serotonin and dopamine.

Folic acid and blood formula

Folic acid regulates blood and has a very beneficial effect on all its components. Adequate intake of vitamin B9 and B12 prevents iron deficiency and helps the body fight various infections.

Folic acid and circulatory disorders

Numerous studies have shown that there is a strong connection between high homocysteine ​​levels and the risk of circulatory problems. Homocysteine ​​is a sulfur-containing amino acid derived from methionine. It has a chemical structure similar to cysteine, another amino acid, hence its name. Its increase is often provoked by a deficiency of cobalamin (vitamin B12) and folic acid (vitamin B9).

Researchers now agree that it is possible to significantly reduce the risk of circulatory problems by eliminating excess homocysteine. This can be done by taking B vitamin and folic acid supplements, which will reduce homocysteine ​​levels in the blood.

Professor Xiaobing Wang and his colleagues at a research center in the USA studied the effect of folic acid on stroke prevention. The results showed that vitamin B9 supplementation significantly reduced the risk of stroke (by an average of 18%). A reduction of 30% was observed when treatment continued for more than 36 months. For those who were not at risk of stroke, the reduction in risk factors is 25%, which also cannot be ignored. Significant reductions in risk factors occurred when homocysteine ​​levels were lowered, supporting the idea that this protein is an important risk factor for circulatory disorders and other cardiovascular diseases.

Folic acid, pregnancy and childhood hyperactivity

A British study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that not getting enough folic acid in early pregnancy can cause hyperactivity in children years later.

Other research groups have shown that getting enough folic acid during pregnancy can prevent birth defects, including spina bifida.

Folate levels were measured in pregnant women at 14 weeks' gestation. They were followed throughout pregnancy to assess their folic acid intake and the effects on their children. At 7 and 9 years after giving birth, one hundred women completed a questionnaire about their child's behavior. After this, it became clear that children born to women who did not have enough folic acid during pregnancy were hyperactive.

Also, the results of the study show that rational nutrition of a pregnant woman contributes to the proper development of the fetal nervous system and can affect the future behavior of the child.

Many researchers confirm that the benefits of taking folic acid before conception and in early pregnancy can be much broader later, and it will certainly affect the health of the unborn child.

Disorders caused by folic acid deficiency

Folic acid deficiency can occur for various reasons and manifest itself in different ways. Among the most common manifestations are nervous, mental, emotional disorders, gum disease, iron deficiency anemia, and skin lesions. Thus, hair loss, severe fatigue, a tendency to depression, stress, dry skin and the appearance of stretch marks may be signs that your body is acutely lacking folic acid or vitamin B9.

Who usually suffers from folic acid deficiency

Some populations are at greater risk of vitamin B9 deficiency than others. These are older people, pregnant women whose need for folic acid is important for the fetus, people suffering from nervous overload and stress, as well as women who take oral contraceptives.

Vitamin B9, folacin, or folic acid is one of the essential substances that is necessary for the life of our body. It is with its help that DNA is formed - the basis of any cell, from red blood cells to cardiomyocytes - the muscle cells of the heart. The lack of this vitamin affects the body of any person and is especially dangerous for women during pregnancy.

What is folic acid

Folium means “leaf” in Latin. Folic acid is so named because it was first isolated from a spinach leaf. Folacin itself does not have biological activity, so in the cells of the body it undergoes biochemical transformations with the formation of several active forms.

In total, the body contains about 5-10 mg of folate. Almost half of them are in the liver, and the rest are in the kidneys, red blood cells, bone marrow and other tissues. There is a small amount of active forms of folic acid in the blood plasma. A concentration of 4.5–30 nmol/l is considered normal. This amount reflects the current intake of vitamin B9 from food. If this compound is detected in plasma in its original, inactive form, this indicates that the consumption rate has been exceeded.

Folic acid was once called “L. Casei bacteria growth factor”, “vitamin Bc”, or “chicken growth factor”, “vitamin M”. Only in 1941 did this substance receive its current name - in honor of the spinach leaf.

The role of folic acid in the human body

Lack of folacin threatens the following problems:

• Immature blood cells, megaloblasts, are formed, and anemia develops. The blood begins to carry oxygen worse, and tissue oxygen starvation gradually increases. Weakness, shortness of breath, and pale skin appear.
• Intestinal cells atrophy and, as a result, stool disorders and weight loss are observed.
• Blood clotting worsens due to impaired platelet synthesis.
• The level of immunity decreases due to a decrease in the number of leukocytes.
• The risk of atherosclerosis, stroke, and blood clots increases due to increased homocysteine ​​levels.
• Irritability appears, memory deteriorates, depressive states develop;
• In children, folic acid deficiency can cause delays in physical development.

According to the results of a 2014 study, 96.3% of children in Europe and America had folacin levels in the blood below the recommended level. This means that virtually all children suffered from hidden or overt vitamin B9 deficiency.

Women especially need folic acid during pregnancy. With the help of folacin, the placenta is formed. With a lack of this microelement, microcirculation in the tissues of the placenta is disrupted and the risk of pregnancy complications significantly increases.

For the developing fetus itself, vitamin B9 deficiency can also be critical. Its influence on the incidence of anencephaly, cerebral hernia, spina bifida, anomalies of the genitourinary system, heart defects, and limbs has been proven.

Folic acid provides biochemical reactions in the body of men. Therefore, despite the opinion that folacin is a “pregnancy vitamin,” representatives of the stronger sex need it no less than expectant mothers. This is especially true for professional athletes and bodybuilders.

Why and when to take folic acid

Normally, a person should receive approximately 200 mcg of the vitamin from food daily. Unfortunately, this is not always possible. The folic acid “depot” reserves in the liver are enough for about 3–4 months of such a vitamin-poor diet. After this, the deficit will need to be intensively replenished with the help of external sources. And most likely, revising your diet will not save the situation. Usually in such cases, vitamins and dietary supplements are additionally prescribed.

For pregnant women, additional intake of vitamin B9 is recommended even with a nutritious diet. This reduces the likelihood of developing abnormalities of the nervous system, brain, heart, genitourinary system, arterial defects and cleft palate in the fetus, and the risk of Down syndrome.

Vitamin Rich Foods

Folic acid is found in greens, all types of cabbage, citrus fruits, liver, yeast, peanuts, asparagus and beans. But when heated, about 80–90% of this substance is destroyed, so not all dishes rich in this product can serve as a source of the vitamin.

According to some researchers, even a good diet covers our daily need for vitamins by only 70–80%.

Medicines containing folic acid

These types of drugs are usually prescribed during pregnancy or to treat anemia.

Folic acid tablets can contain from 400 mcg to 15 mg. For pregnant women, the optimal dosage is 400–800 mcg. In higher concentrations, from 5 to 15 mg, folacin is prescribed in the treatment of folate deficiency anemia.

The main contraindication for taking any medications is individual intolerance to the components. Before purchasing a medicine or vitamins of a certain brand, you need to carefully look at the composition and study the instructions. Even drugs of the same name from different manufacturers may have different compositions.

It is not advisable to take folic acid supplements for anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, as this can lead to an imaginary improvement in well-being, which will only worsen the course of the disease later. Another contraindication is cancer. On the one hand, they lead to increased consumption of folic acid and its deficiency in the body. On the other hand, this very substance can stimulate the active growth of tumors. Therefore, in each such case, specialist advice is needed.

Vitamin-mineral complexes (BAS)

The body rarely develops a deficiency of any particular microelement. Most often this is a complex problem. A lack of one substance leads to an increase in the consumption of another. Therefore, to achieve the desired biological effect and compensate for the deficiency of essential substances, it is optimal to use complex supplements.

Vitamin supplements for adults contain 200–1000 mcg of folic acid. They are prescribed to replenish vitamin deficiencies, for example, during illness, under increased stress, in preparation for pregnancy, or with an insufficiently varied diet.

Not all multivitamins contain folic acid, so when choosing a drug you need to carefully look at the composition. The amount of vitamins should be stated in milligrams or micrograms, and as a percentage of the recommended daily intake. You should not exceed the recommended amount without direct instructions from a doctor.

Before taking any dietary supplements, it is better to consult your doctor. You also need to know whether there is intolerance to certain substances or auxiliary components of these drugs. The products can be produced in the form of tablets, capsules, effervescent soluble tablets. For children, there are vitamins in the form of chewable lozenges or animal figurines. Here you can focus on your own preferences - for some it is difficult to swallow large capsules, for others they choose drugs with a minimum of dyes and additives, for others soluble forms are more convenient.

The dosage of the drug is indicated in the instructions. Some manufacturers divide the daily dose into two or three doses throughout the day, while others place the entire dose of active ingredients in one tablet or capsule.

Folic acid is a substance necessary for all people, regardless of their gender and age. It is responsible for the processes of DNA formation, for the creation of new cells and for subtle biochemical reactions occurring in the body. Folates become especially important during pregnancy. In order to avoid vitamin B9 deficiency, you need to eat a varied diet, do not forget about greens and vegetables. It is also advisable to take multivitamin complexes and dietary supplements.

Sources:

1 Okorokov A.N. Diagnosis of diseases of internal organs: T. 4. Diagnosis of diseases of the blood system: - M.: Med.lit., 2001. – P. 70

2 Savchenko A.A. Vitamins as the basis of immunometabolic therapy / A.A. Savchenko, E.N. Anisimova, A.G. Borisov, E.A. Kondakov. – Krasnoyarsk: KrasSMU Publishing House, 2011. – p. 56.

3 Kelly P. Unmetabolized serum folic acid: studies of the immediate effects of the substance in people consuming fortified foods and supplements.//P. Kelly, J. McPartlin, M. Goggins, D.G. Wire, J.M. Scott/Effective pharmacotherapy. 2014. No. 11. pp. 22-31

4 Savchenko A.A. Vitamins as the basis of immunometabolic therapy / A.A. Savchenko, E.N. Anisimova, A.G. Borisov, E.A. Kondakov. – Krasnoyarsk: KrasSMU Publishing House, 2011. – p. 57.

5 Zimmerman M. Microelements in medicine (according to Burgerstein) Per.s.n. – M.: Arnebia, 2006. – P. 16

6 Monteiro JP, Wise C, Morine MJ et al. Methylation potential associated with diet, genotype, protein, and metabolite levels in the Delta Obesity Vitamin Study. Genes Nutr 2014; 9: 403–22.

7 Kuznetsova I.V. Folic acid and its role in female reproduction/I.V. Kuznetsova, V.A. Konovalov // Gynecology. 2014. No. 04 P. 17-23

8 De Walle HE, de Jong-van den Berg LT. Ten years after the Dutch public health campaign on folic acid: the continuing challenge. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2008; 64:539–43. Busby A, Abramsky L, Dolk H, Armstrong B. Eurocat Folic Acid Working Group. Preventing neural tube defects in Europe: population based study. Br Med J 2005; 330:574–5. Patterson D. Folate metabolism and the risk of Down syndrome. Downs Syndrome Res Pract 2008; 12 (2): 93–7. Czeizel AE, Puho E. Maternal use of nutritional supplements during the first month of pregnancy and decreased risk of Down's syndrome: case-control study. Nutrition 2005; 21 (6): 698–704. Bailey LB, Berry RJ. Folic acid supplementation and the occurrence of congenital heart defects, orofacial clefts, multiple births, and miscarriage. Am J Clin Nutr 2005; 81 (5): 1213S–17S. Oyama K. Folic acid prevents congenital malformations in the offspring of diabetic mice. Endocr J 2009;56(1):29–37.

9 Dietetics. 4th ed./Ed. A.Yu. Baranovsky. – St. Petersburg: Peter, 2012 – pp. 169-171

10 Ermoshina S. Folic acid, B vitamins and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the prevention of thrombotic complications in women taking oral contraceptives.//S. Ermoshina/Doctor. 2008. No. 5. pp. 55-60

11 https://www.rlsnet.ru/mnn_index_id_1347.htm

12 Gromova O.A. The use of folic acid in obstetrics and gynecology.//O.A. Gromova, I.Yu. Torshin.2009. M.: RSC UNESCO.

13 Bogdanov A. N. Megaloblastic anemia // A. N. Bogdanov, V. I. Mazurov / Bulletin of the North-Western State Medical University named after. I. I. Mechnikova. 2010. No. 04 P. 82-86

This substance belongs to the B vitamins. Now folic acid is usually called vitamin B9, but when it was first discovered, it was given the name Bc. Why "s"? Everything is very simple. When researchers isolated the vitamin in its pure form and began to study its effect on animals, the first subjects were chickens, on which it acted as a growth factor. That’s where the “c” comes from: it’s the first letter of the English word “chicken,” which means “chicken.”

By the way, this acid is also called folic acid for a reason. It was first discovered in yeast extract, but then it began to be found in other foods: spinach, lettuce, cabbage, etc. Most sources of vitamin B9 are represented by green leafy vegetables, so they decided to enshrine this fact in its name: “folium” means “leaf” in Latin.

Why does the body need folic acid?

Once inside the cells, the vitamin is converted into its active form and participates in a variety of metabolic processes. Its main biological role is to participate in a key life process - DNA synthesis, that is, the formation and renewal of genetic material. This is why folic acid is so necessary for pregnant women - it is needed to build the structures of the child’s body.

The body has a huge population of cells that must constantly be renewed. These are red blood cells - the main formed elements of blood. The process of formation and, especially, maturation of red blood cells is also impossible without folic acid. If it is deficient, folate deficiency anemia may develop. This condition occurs in those who add few green vegetables to their diet, but it occurs especially quickly in people who abuse alcohol: alcohol interferes with the normal absorption of vitamin B9 - as, indeed, many others.

When is folic acid prescribed?

- hypovitaminosis;

- anemia;

- pregnancy.

Each of these points needs clarification.

• Folic acid for hypovitaminosis

Therapeutic doses of this vitamin - namely, 5 mg (5 tablets) per day - can be taken only when hypovitaminosis is laboratory confirmed. There is a blood test for folate (folic acid compounds) that can be performed in any large laboratory; it helps determine whether there is a deficiency in the body or not.

The prophylactic dosage that healthy people are allowed to take to prevent this condition is 50 micrograms (not milligrams!) per day, which is 100 times less than the therapeutic dose. Of course, one cannot expect any toxic effects from this medicine, but there is also no need for useless treatment.

• Folic acid for anemia

There are several dozen types of anemia - hereditary and acquired, and folic acid is not prescribed in every case. It can be recommended for so-called megaloblastic anemia, when the number of red blood cells decreases, and their size and content increase. In this form, they perform their functions worse.

The symptoms of folate deficiency anemia differ little from other forms, so it also needs to be detected using a folate test. You can, of course, carry out only a general analysis, but it will reveal changes that can also occur with another type of anemia - B12 deficiency, which should be treated slightly differently.

Treatment should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor, with blood tests checked every 10 days. The duration of the course is determined based on their results.

• Folic acid during pregnancy

It is mandatory prescribed to all pregnant women, but sometimes there is a feeling that doctors cannot “agree” among themselves what the dosage of this vitamin should be.

Studies have shown that taking folic acid during pregnancy can significantly reduce the risk of developmental abnormalities of the central nervous system in children. This feature was noted back in 1991 by Canadian scientists. Since then, similar tests have been carried out repeatedly, during which this was confirmed. Accordingly, the optimal doses of the medicine were determined, strictly prescribed depending on the situation.

What do we see in reality? Open the instructions for folic acid in the reference book - and you will see that it is recommended for pregnant women at a dose of 400 mcg (0.4 mg) per day. Go to the pharmacy, take a look at the composition of multivitamin complexes for expectant mothers - on most packages you will notice the number 800 mcg (0.8 mg). Contact your gynecologist and he will advise you to take 3 folic acid tablets a day. In the same antenatal clinic, another specialist may name a dose of 5 mg. Who to believe?

If a pregnant woman eats properly, and she has not previously had pregnancies in which sick children were born, a minimal dose will be enough - buy yourself a special multivitamin, for example, Elevit Prenatal or Materna, and don’t worry about anything. If your family already has children (or other blood relatives) with congenital brain disorders, and you have diabetes or are taking anticonvulsants due to epilepsy, you should choose a dosage of 3-5 mg.

When else is folic acid useful?

In some cases, for example, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and other serious diseases, patients are treated with cytostatics - primarily methotrexate. This “heavy” drug has been shown to have fewer side effects when taken simultaneously with folic acid at a dose of 3 tablets per day. Other studies are also interesting: it is known that taking vitamin B9 prevents the development of gastrointestinal cancer.

There are practically no side effects with this remedy, except for extremely rare cases of allergies; Moreover, it has no contraindications. Doctors have never observed an overdose of folic acid, and while taking it, it doesn’t even matter how many times a day you take the tablets - the main thing is to follow the daily dose. Thus, folic acid, being an indispensable remedy in the presence of relevant problems, is as safe as possible and can be used without any fear. Hopefully, as scientists better study its anti-cancer activity, it will be used to treat tumors.

• Latin name: Folic Acid
• ATX code: B03BB01
• Active substance: Folic Acid
• Manufacturer: OZON LLC, Valenta Pharmaceuticals (Russia), Borisov Medical Preparations Plant (Belarus), Nature's Bounty, Inc., Solgar Vitamin and Herb (USA)

Compound

The tablet contains 1 or 5 mg of active substance.

Other components: dextrose (in the form of monohydrate), sucrose, talc, stearic acid.

Release form

The drug is available in tablet form. Tablets with a chamfer have a flat-cylindrical shape. Their color can vary from yellowish to yellow, the presence of small inclusions of yellow is allowed.

The tablets are packaged 10 pieces in blister packs made of aluminum foil and PVC or 50 pieces in plastic jars. Outline packages and cans are placed in cardboard packaging for consumer packaging.

pharmachologic effect

Metabolic. The drug stimulates erythropoiesis and compensates for the body's need for folic acid when it is deficient.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

Indications for use

Indications for the use of Folic acid are:

• anemia associated with deficiency vitamin B9 (including medicinal, megaloblastic, radiation, post-resection);
• hypovitaminosis and vitamin deficiency f. acids (including in childhood, during pregnancy and lactation, as well as due to tropical diarrhea , malnutrition, intake antiepileptic drugs , celiac disease and a number of other factors);
• intestinal tuberculosis ;

Contraindications

Contraindications to the use of the drug are:

• for folic acid;
• hypersensitivity to the excipients contained in the tablets;
• anemia associated with a deficiency in the body;
• fructosemia ;
• sucrase and isomaltase deficiency;
• malabsorption of glucose and galactose.

Folic acid should be prescribed with caution to persons with B9-vitamin anemia accompanied by symptoms of deficiency vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) .

Side effects

Side effects associated with taking Folic acid manifest themselves in the form of hypersensitivity reactions: erythema , bronchospasm , fever , skin rashes, hyperthermia .

Folic acid, instructions for use

How to take Folic acid for medicinal purposes?

For the treatment of acute and severe B9-vitamin deficiency The patient is advised to take 5 mg of F. acid per day. In pediatrics, the dosage of folic acid tablets is selected depending on age.

The duration of treatment is from 3 weeks to 1 month.

Instructions for the use of Folic acid for the prevention of hypo- and vitamin deficiency

For warning hypovitaminosis conditions related to the shortage vitamin b9 , the patient is prescribed to take from 20 to 50 mcg of F. acid per day.

With concomitant chronic infection, alcoholism, malabsorption syndrome, hemolytic anemia , at liver failure , after gastrectomy , under stress, the daily dose of the drug should be increased.

Daily value of vitamin B9

Children of the first year of life are prescribed to take 25 mcg in the first 6 months, and 35 mcg of F. acid in the next six months.

For children aged 12 months to 3 years, the dose is 50 mcg/day. At the age of 3 to 6 years, the drug is taken at a dose of 75 mcg, at the age of 7 to 10 years - 100 mcg, at the age of 11 to 14 years - 150 mcg per day.

The optimal dosage for children over 15 years of age, according to the annotation, is 200 mcg of F. acid per day.

Overdose

The use of the drug in a dose not exceeding 4-5 mg per day is not accompanied by toxic effects. A dose significantly exceeding 5 mg per day can cause dysfunction of the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.

In children, symptoms of overdose manifest themselves in the form of increased excitability and digestive disorders. Adults may also suffer from sleep disorders.

Interaction

Absorption of F. acid is reduced when used in combination with:

• antacids (including magnesium, calcium and aluminum containing preparations);
• sulfonamides (for example, with);
• Cholestyramine ;
• alcohol.

A decrease in the effectiveness of folic acid preparations results from their simultaneous use with bacteriostatic antibiotic And antiprotozoal drug Pyrimethamine .

This is due to the fact that the above drugs inhibit the activity of dihydrofolate reductase, an enzyme that plays an important role in intracellular metabolism folate .

For patients taking Trimethoprim or Pyrimethamine , it is recommended to prescribe instead of folic acid calcium folinate .

Corticosteroid hormones , oral contraceptives , nitrofuran And anticonvulsants (including Carbamazepine i) reduce the concentration of f. acids in the blood.

There is no unambiguous information regarding drugs that contain Zn++: some studies show that folic acid inhibits the absorption of this microelement, others refute this data.

Folic acid and Methotrexate. Why is folic acid needed in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis?

Wikipedia states that areas of intense cell division and, in particular, have a special need for phosphorus acid. malignant neoplasms . In this regard, the mechanism of action of individual antitumor drugs - including Methotrexate - is based on the creation of obstacles to the metabolism of folates.

This, in turn, significantly reduces the likelihood of encountering the problem of impaired maturation of a full-fledged egg, which is one of the most common causes of infertility in women.

Thus, summarizing the benefits for women from taking the drug, it should be noted that the vitamin in the quantities necessary for the body helps normalize the menstrual cycle, prevents, smoothes the severity of unpleasant symptoms, increases intellectual abilities and the chances of getting pregnant, and ensures the normal course of pregnancy.

In addition, folic acid is rightly called the “beauty vitamin”. The vitamin is indispensable for hair, skin, nails: its deficiency leads to hair slowing down, dulling, breaking and falling out, nails becoming weaker and more fragile, and the skin more often suffering from acne .

Thus, regular use of folate for a woman can improve not only her general well-being, but also her appearance.

Folic acid is no less important for men. Many pathologies leading to problems with conception are caused by the content of an incorrect set of chromosomes in sperm.

The phenomenon is called aneuploidy and is observed even in healthy men: about 4% of the sperm of an absolutely healthy person without bad habits and with no genetically bad predisposition contains an excess or insufficient number of chromosomes.

Aneuploidy not only makes fertilization of the egg impossible, but also in some cases causes various forms genomic pathologies in a child (including Down syndrome And Klinefelter syndrome ).

It is believed that the reason for the appearance of defective sperm may lie in poor nutrition and an unhealthy lifestyle, but scientists today find it difficult to say exactly why the composition of sperm changes.

However, studies have shown that men whose diets contain foods rich in folic acid have higher levels of aneuploidy significantly lower (by about 20-30%) than in men whose need for vitamin B9 not fully compensated. Consequently, they have a much higher chance of successfully conceiving and producing healthy offspring.

For this reason vitamin B9 along with vitamin E included in all complexes that have been developed for the prevention and treatment of male infertility.

Using them in combination can significantly improve hormonal levels and blood circulation, as well as increase the quantity and quality of sperm.

The optimal dosage of folic acid for men is 700-1100 mcg per day.