Folic acid is one of the B-complex vitamins essential for neurological growth and development. It is also known as vitamin B9. The main role of folic acid is in synthesis of DNA. It helps in maturation of RBC making an important vitamin in foetal development and maintenance of pregnancy.
It is needed for DNA synthesis and some important cellular metabolism.
Body cannot synthesize it i.e.it is to be supplied trough diet like fruits, vegetables and meat.
Deficiency causes—
1. Inadequate in diet
2. Malabsorption
3.Diseases of small intestine like tropical sprue, celiac disease
4. Drugs like methotrexate, pyrimethamine, trimethoprim, sulfasalazine, valproic acid
Clinical features— In children irritability, poor weight gain, failure to weight gain
others show neurological manifestations and cognitive delays.
In pregnancy, deficiency may lead to anencephaly and spina bifida in baby.
Source– wikipedia
That’s why pregnant women are supplied by folic acid in the first trimester.
When deficiency is established, folic acid supplied at 0.5- 1mg per day.
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