Folic Acid
 |
Folate is an essential vitamin that is also known as folic acid and folacin. The synthetic form of the vitamin (folic acid), pteroylglutamic acid, is seldom found naturally in food. The folates found in nature contain the core chemical structure of pteroylglutamic acid but vary in their state of reduction, the single carbon moiety they bear and/or the length of the glutamate chain attached. At least 50% of whole body folate is stored in the liver.
The metabolic role of folate is as an acceptor and donor of one-carbon units in a variety of reactions involved in amino acid and nucleotide metabolism. The carbon can be carried as a methyl, methylene, formyl, formimino or methenyl group. The coenzyme form of the vitamin is typically fully reduced and poly-glutamylated. In the adult, folate is absorbed primarily in the proximal one-third of the small intestine. It is also conceivable that a portion of the large depot of bacterially synthesized folate in the large intestine may be absorbed. A large portion of folate delivered to the liver is secreted into bile and redistributed to peripheral tissues. Polyglutamylation (addition of glutamic acids) of folate is believed necessary to concentrate and store folates in tissues. To know more please visit: www.LifeSpanMeds.com
|
| Dosage |
Packing |
Price |
Pay now |
Medications and Prescriptions
Generic name: Folic Acid (Folacin; Folate)
Product Brand Name: Folvite ®
1. Description: Folic acid, also known as folate, is a B-vitamin that can be found in some enriched foods and vitamin pills. If women have enough of it in their bodies before pregnancy, this vitamin can decrease the risk for neural tube defects (NTDs), which are birth defects of the baby's brain or spine. The U.S. Public Health Service recommended in September 1992 that all women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms (ug) of folic acid daily to reduce their risk of having a pregnancy affected with spina bifida or other neural tube defects.
2. Folic acid is Prescribed for: In recent years, doctors have come to realize that folic acid is very important for everyone in maintaining health. It has long been known that folic acid plays an important role in the production of normal red blood cells. More recent studies suggest that folic acid may help prevent heart disease, stroke and certain cancers, especially colon cancer. While these studies have not proven a protective effect, they suggest that many people may benefit from taking folic acid.
3. Drug Mechanism: Folic acid enhances chemical reactions that contribute to the production of red blood cells, the manufacture of DNA needed for cell replication, and the metabolism of amino acids (compounds necessary for the manufacture of proteins).
4. Dosage Form: The best way to get enough folic acid is to take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid in it and eat a healthy diet. Most multivitamins have this amount, but check the label to be sure. You also can get folic acid in your diet, but it's hard to get enough every day through food alone. That's why the March of Dimes encourages all women of childbearing age to take a multivitamin containing folic acid every day as part of a healthy diet.
5. Drug Interactions: Folic acid antagonists, which include such common drugs as trimethoprim, triamterene, carbamazepine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, and primidone, may increase the risk not only of neural-tube defects, but also of cardiovascular defects, oral clefts, and urinary tract defects.
6. Pregnancy: Folic acid supplementation is recommended during pregnancy.
7. Nursing Mothers: Folic acid supplementation is recommended while nursing.
8. Dietary and Alcohol Considerations: Alcohol impairs the body's utilization of folic acid; avoid it completely if you are taking folic acid.
9. Possible Side Effects: Folate has been tolerated without significant side effects in dosages as high as 250 mg and 1,000 mg/day. However, some scientists reported malaise, sleep problems, irritability, and an increased activity level when folate was given to normal, healthy volunteers. Folate has been reported to exacerbate the frequency of seizures in epilepsy, but we have not experienced this problem in patients with FXS and seizures. Folate treatment should be avoided, however, in patients with poorly controlled seizures. Folate may occasionally cause loose stools and can prolong diarrhea in children recovering from gastroenteritis. If diarrhea occurs, the dose of folate should be lowered or discontinued until the diarrhea resolves. We reported vitamin B6 deficiency in males with FXS taking 10 mg of folic acid per day. To avoid this problem, patients should take daily a multiple vitamin with B6 while on folic acid therapy. Folate can also interfere with zinc absorption in the intestine, and serum zinc levels should therefore be monitored at least once a year.
10. Storage: Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Capsules should be stored at room temperature (77°F (25°C)) and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). It is okay for brief periods in temperatures between 59-86°F (15-30°C). Throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed.
11. Package Size and Type: Tablets: 3 mg.
12. Where can I get more information on Foloc acid?
a) U.S. National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health
b) WebMD Corporation
Caution! Before starting to take this medicine, it is vital that you should consult your doctor! Do not use it on your own initiative, without medical advice.
|
