What is folic acid needed for and how is it beneficial for men?

When it comes to folic acid, most people think of women's vitamins with folic acid that are prescribed to pregnant women. However, the role of this substance in the body is immeasurably higher. B9, also known as folic acid, is needed by women, men and children.

B9 is a type of water-soluble vitamin. People get it from food, and small amounts of B9 are synthesized in the intestines. With the participation of this substance, vital processes occur in the human body.

1. Participates in protein metabolism, ensuring the synthesis of DNA and RNA chains in which hereditary information is encoded. The first signs of B9 deficiency are peeling nails and split ends.
2. Required by bone marrow to form healthy blood cells, both red blood cells and white blood cells. With its deficiency, a severe blood disease develops - megaloblastic anemia.
3. It is an important part of the synthesis of neurotransmitters that regulate mood, appetite and sleep. Before going on a diet or taking sleeping pills, be sure to take course B9, after which the disturbances may simply disappear.
4. Promotes proper development of the fetus, including the formation of the nervous and muscular systems.
5. Provides male and female fertility, that is, the ability to bear children.
6. Participates in the synthesis of immunoglobulins - proteins necessary for the functioning of the immune system.
7. Normalizes the female menstrual cycle and delays the onset of menopause.
8. Reduces the likelihood of cancer and all types of blood cancer.

Beneficial properties of folic acid

Folic acid, a water-soluble B vitamin, takes part in the synthesis of immune blood cells, activation of metabolism, and helps normalize the function of the digestive tract.
Vitamin B9 is involved in the synthesis of DNA and RNA molecules, in which genetic information is stored. Its presence in the body is also necessary for protein biosynthesis.

With insufficient levels of vitamin B9, the likelihood of developing defects in the fetus increases significantly.

Folic acid is also necessary for a woman's reproductive system. It is especially important for pregnant women, as it participates in the formation of the nervous system of the fetus. In addition, it is necessary for the normal formation and functioning of the placenta.

Cell division occurs with the participation of folic acid; in addition, the following benefits for the body are noted:

• positive effect on brain function;
• normalization of homocysteine ​​levels;
• improving the appearance of hair and nails;
• improved skin regeneration;
• production of sufficient amounts of methionine, norepinephrine, glycine, serotonin, thereby reducing the likelihood of developing anemia and depression.

As a rule, folic acid is prescribed for additional use when planning pregnancy and during gestation. For an adult, deficiency of this important element can be avoided by taking 200 mg of the drug daily. For pregnant and breastfeeding women, the dose should be increased to 400-600 mcg.

Folic acid supplementation is usually combined with vitamin B12 supplementation.

Why does the body need B9?

Let's look at the functions of folic acid in more detail. It belongs to the category of water-soluble vitamins, so it is quickly washed out of the body. However, it must first undergo a transformation to become a more bioavailable metafolin. If this happens, then the component has the necessary effect and is removed naturally.

If this process is disrupted, there will not be a deficiency, but, on the contrary, an excess of unmetabolized folic acid. To prevent this situation from happening, you need to periodically take a blood test and choose the most bioavailable forms of vitamin B9.

Folates are needed by the body for:

• normal fertility in women and men;
• carrying a pregnancy without malformations and miscarriages;
• proper cell division;
• absorption of proteins, fats and carbohydrates;
• reducing the concentration of homocysteine, an excess of which can lead to a stroke;
• prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• reducing the risk of developing iron deficiency anemia;
• stimulation of the body's defenses;
• producing pleasure hormones and maintaining the balance of the nervous system.

These are not all the functions. The substance has a complex effect on the body, so folic acid deficiency affects all organs and systems. To avoid bad consequences, you should at least eat foods rich in folates (broccoli, legumes, organ meats, asparagus, etc.) more often, and take supplements if necessary. But you cannot prescribe dietary supplements for yourself; this should be done by specialists.

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Signs of folic acid deficiency

Signs of vitamin B9 deficiency may include symptoms that are often attributed to other diseases:

• depression, irritability;
• memory impairment;
• headache;
• general weakness and poor appetite;
• discomfort and loss of sensitivity in the limbs;
• inflammation of the mucous membrane of the tongue, accompanied by pain and the formation of ulcers in the oral cavity;
• diarrhea;
• difficulty breathing;
• delayed puberty in girls;
• early manifestation of gray hair and menopause;
• megaloblastic anemia.

Megaloblastic anemia due to folic acid deficiency

Folate deficiency megaloblastic anemia most often develops in women during menopause. However, this problem cannot be ruled out at any other age. The development of the disease is primarily indicated by a large number of megaloblasts in the bone marrow and the presence of the following symptoms:

• fast fatiguability;
• headache;
• absentmindedness;
• dyspnea;
• increased heart rate;
• bright red color of the tongue.

Even in the absence of these symptoms, women over 50 years of age will also benefit from supplemental vitamin B9.

Indications for taking folic acid

Indications for taking vitamin B9 when planning pregnancy and conception

Folic acid is required by the body at all periods of life, but during planning and conceiving a child, it is most important for the formation and development of a healthy fetus. Additional intake of folic acid in various preparations helps maintain normal levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is especially important during pregnancy.

This increases the likelihood of pregnancy and successful pregnancy.

If one of the spouses is deficient in vitamin B9, pregnancy is unlikely.

It is important to remember that folic acid is needed in the earliest stages of embryonic development. In the first weeks after conception, the embryo actively grows and all important systems and organs are formed. Folic acid is necessary for the embryo to form new tissues. Already in the second week, the fetus’s nervous system begins to form. A lack of vitamin B9 at this point can lead to malformations and anomalies in the development of the fetus and will significantly increase the risk of delayed development of the child in the future.

That is why gynecologists recommend drinking folic acid even at the stage of pregnancy planning, without waiting for a delay in menstruation. So, by the time of ovulation, the expectant mother’s body will not lack vitamin B9 and will be able to ensure the normal development of the embryo in the earliest stages of gestation.

With folic acid deficiency, the following negative consequences are possible for the fetus:

• slowing down the process of fetal development;
• spontaneous abortion;
• placental abruption;
• premature birth;
• preeclampsia;
• heart defects;
• palate defects and cleft lip;
• anomaly of the genitourinary tract;
• underweight newborn.

Folic acid plays an equally important role for the body of the expectant mother, which works in an intensive mode during the period of bearing a child. The functioning of the hematopoietic system, the growth and development of the placenta, the strengthening of the vascular network in the uterus - all this will not be ensured properly without the required amount of folic acid.

Due to problems with the development of the placenta or inferiority of the uterine vessels, spontaneous termination of pregnancy is possible. Therefore, doctors recommend that both future parents start taking folic acid during pregnancy planning, even before conception. If pregnancy has been detected after the fact, the drug should be started immediately and not stopped during the entire period of bearing the child. Since vitamin B9 is water-soluble, it is impossible to have an excess of it in the body.

Taking vitamin B9 is necessary not only for the fetus and ensuring the processes of its development and formation.

Is it possible to avoid taking folic acid during pregnancy?

According to statistics, most pregnancies are unplanned. A very small percentage of couples undergo a full examination before planning a child. Often a woman finds out about pregnancy at 2 months of fetal development. And there should be enough folic acid in the body already in the first days of conception.

If the couple of expectant parents are generally healthy, then the level of vitamin B9 may be sufficient and such an omission will not create problems for either the fetus or the expectant mother.

However, one should not hope for luck in such an important case, so taking folic acid is recommended by doctors at least three months before pregnancy. In some countries, folate supplements are used by all women with preserved reproductive function.

Indications for taking folic acid for men

Folic acid is beneficial not only for the developing fetus and the female body, but also for men. The quality of sperm depends to a large extent on adequate levels of vitamin B9. Therefore, when planning pregnancy before conception, not only women, but also men need to take folic acid supplements.

In the male body, vitamin B9 performs the following functions:

• reduces the number of chromosomal defects in sperm and reduces the risk of congenital pathology in the child;
• increases the activity and viability of sperm, which increases the chances of successful conception;
• activates the immune system and improves the overall tone of the body.

Taking folic acid by both partners increases the chances of a successful pregnancy and birth of a healthy child and significantly reduces the risk of gestational complications.

Indications for taking vitamin B9 in adulthood

Given the characteristics of a mature organism, after 50 years of age, a sufficient level of folic acid should be maintained in the body. The fact is that folic acid has an estrogen-like effect, which improves well-being during menopause. The severity of negative symptoms decreases:

• sweating and feeling of heat decrease;
• increased heartbeat is eliminated;
• the frequency of hot flashes and their severity decreases;
• sleep is normalized;
• mental state improves;
• blood pressure is normalized.

Vitamin B9 not only has a generally positive effect on the body during menopause, but also protects against diseases associated with the destruction of the retina and deterioration of visual acuity.

You should eat more foods containing folic acid.

Signs of long-term deficiency

If a person does not consume enough folate, the body begins to signal a problem within a week. Over time, the symptoms become more obvious, and the state of health worsens. A severe deficiency can be identified by the following signs:

• mouth ulcers appear;
• a person ceases to sense tastes normally;
• anemia occurs;
• feeling weak and apathetic;
• constipation, diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems often appear;
• dizziness and shortness of breath occur;
• muscles hurt even without physical activity.

Such symptoms indicate serious illness, but this is not always the case. Sometimes doctors cannot identify the disease, and your health does not improve. Perhaps the reason lies in the fact that folate levels have fallen below normal.

Uses of folic acid

Since folic acid is an important element for the normal course of pregnancy, it is advisable to conduct a test for vitamin B9 deficiency in the body before planning conception. If this results in a significant deficiency of folic acid, medications containing folacin are prescribed.

If no acute problems with a deficiency of this element were found, the doctor may recommend taking vitamin complexes and increased nutrition with foods rich in vitamin B9.

The most folic acid is found in the following foods:

• liver and other offal;
• yeast;
• sunflower seeds;
• vegetables and leafy greens - lettuce, turnips, spinach, asparagus;
• legumes – lentils, peas;
• chicken egg yolk;
• semi-finished products made with the addition of folic acid.

Liver is one of the most valuable sources of vitamin B9; this product also contains many useful components and nutrients for the body.

Folic acid: why do men need it when planning to conceive?

Research by American scientists has shown that taking vitamin B9 increases the number of morphologically correct sperm, that is, without structural abnormalities, by 25-30%. This increases the chances of conception and also reduces the risk of miscarriage or having a child with congenital malformations. A lack of folic acid provokes an increase in the number of defective spermatozoa in semen, which can lead to infertility.

The period of spermatogenesis is 72 days, so men are recommended to take folic acid for 2-3 months before the expected day of conception. This period is needed for the maturation of sperm with the correct structure.

What vitamins contain folic acid?

Special multivitamins for pregnant women contain a loading dose of folin, so you cannot take such drugs on your own without a doctor’s recommendation.

To prevent possible problems for the expectant mother, doctors prescribe special medications containing vitamin B9:

1. "Folic acid" - one tablet contains 1000 mcg of vitamin B9.
2. "Foliber" with vitamin B12. Each tablet contains 400 mcg of folic acid.
3. "Folic acid" with B6 and B12. One tablet contains 600 mcg of folic acid, 5 mcg of vitamin B12, and 6 mg of vitamin B6. This drug is a dietary supplement.
4. Complex vitamin preparations with folic acid containing: “Multi-tabs perinatal” (400 mcg), “Pregnavit” (750 mcg), “Elevit” (1000 mcg), “Vitrum Prenatal” (800 mcg), “Materna” (1000 mcg).

“Folio” with iodine contains 400 mcg of B9 and 200 mcg of iodine.

Features of the intake and absorption of folic acid

Vitamin B9 deficiency is often accompanied by a number of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract - celiac disease, gastritis, malabsorption, since this element is poorly absorbed in this case. A lack of folic acid for the same reason can occur when using certain medications:

• glucocorticosteroids,
• aspirin,
• antacids,
• nitrofurans,
• contraceptive drugs.

The following diseases require special attention from a doctor when prescribing folic acid supplements:

• disorders of the kidneys;
• anemia;
• overweight with a BMI of 30 or higher;
• history of spontaneous miscarriages from previous pregnancies;
• diabetes mellitus, both type 1 and type 2;
• taking medications, one of the components of which is valproic acid;
• alcohol abuse.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you have at least one of these aggravating circumstances. He will adjust the dosage and dosage regimen in accordance with the existing diseases.