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Folic Acid (Vitamin B-9)

Basic Information

Folic acid is also called folate, pteroyglutamic acid,
folacin.
Brand names:
Folic-Acid Tablets
Apo-Folic(R)
Folvite(R)
Novofolacid(R)
Vitamin B-9(R)
Available from natural sources? Yes
Available from synthetic sources? Yes
Prescription required? Yes, for injectable forms
Fat-soluble or water-soluble? Water-soluble

NATURAL SOURCES

Barley
Beans
Brewer's yeast
Calves' liver
Endive
Fruits
Garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
Green, leafy vegetables
Lentils
Orange juice
Oranges
Peas
Rice
Soybeans
Split peas
Sprouts
Wheat
Wheat germ

REASONS TO USE

  • Promotes normal red-blood-cell formation.
  • Maintains nervous system, intestinal tract, sex organs, white blood cells, normal patterns of growth.
  • Regulates embryonic and fetal development of nerve cells.
  • Promotes normal growth and development.
  • Treats anemias due to folic-acid deficiency occurring from alcoholism, liver disease, hemolytic anemia, sprue, pregnancy, breast-feeding, oral-contraceptive use.

    UNPROVED SPECULATED BENEFITS

  • Prevents mental problems.
  • Acts as a natural analgesic or pain killer.

    WHO NEEDS ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS?

  • Anyone with inadequate caloric or nutritional dietary intake or increased nutritional requirements.
  • Older people (over 55 years).
  • Pregnant or breast-feeding women.
  • Women who use oral contraceptives.
  • Those who abuse alcohol or other drugs.
  • People with a chronic wasting illness, excess stress for long periods or those who have recently undergone surgery.
  • Those with a portion of the gastrointestinal tract surgically removed.
  • People with recent severe burns or injuries.
  • Young infants not receiving breast milk or fortified commercial formula.
  • Extremely ill people who must be fed intravenously or by nasa-gastric tube.

    DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS

  • Hemolytic and megaloblastic anemia in which red blood cells are large and uneven in size, have a shorter life span or are likely to have cell membranes rupture
  • Irritability
  • Weakness
  • Lack of energy
  • Sleeping difficulties
  • Paleness
  • Sore red tongue
  • Mild mental symptoms, such as forgetfulness and confusion
  • Diarrhea

    UNPROVED SPECULATED SYMPTOMS

  • Depression
  • Cervical dysplasia
  • Psychosis

    LAB TESTS TO DETECT DEFICIENCY

  • Serum folic acid
  • Blood cells showing macrocytic anemia coupled with normal levels of B-12 in blood

    DOSAGE AND USAGE INFORMATION

    Age RDA
    0-6 months 30mcg
    6-12 months 45mcg
    1-3 years 100mcg
    4-6 years 200mcg
    7-10 years 300mcg
    11+ years 400mcg
    Pregnant +400mcg
    Lactating +100mcg
    What this vitamin does:

  • Acts as co-enzyme for normal DNA synthesis.
  • Functions as part of co-enzyme in amino acid and nucleoprotein synthesis.
  • Promotes normal red-blood-cell formation.

    Miscellaneous information:

  • Cooking vegetables causes loss of some folic-acid content.

    Available as:

  • Tablets: Swallow whole with full glass of liquid. Don't chew or crush. Take with meals or 1 to 1-1/2 hours after meals unless otherwise directed by your doctor. NOTE: Folic acid is sometimes omitted from multivitamin/mineral preparations. Check labels.

    WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

    Don't take if you:

  • Have pernicious anemia. Folic acid will make the blood appear normal, but neurological problems may progress and be irreversible.
  • Take anti-convulsant medication.

    Consult your doctor if you have:

  • Anemia

    Over age 55:

  • No problems expected.

    Pregnancy:

  • No problems expected.
  • Don't take megadoses.

    Breast-feeding:

  • No problems expected.
  • Don't take megadoses.

    Effect on lab tests:

  • May cause false-low results in tests for vitamin B-12.

    Storage:

  • Store in cool, dry place away from direct light, but don't freeze.
  • Store safely out of reach of children.
  • Don't store in bathroom medicine cabinet. Heat and moisture may change action of vitamin.

    Others:

  • Renal dialysis reduces blood folic acid. Patients on dialysis should increase RDA by 300%.

    OVERDOSE/TOXICITY

    Signs and symptoms:
    Prolonged use of high doses can produce damaging folacin
    crystals in the kidney. Doses over 1,500mcg/day can cause
    appetite loss, nausea, flatulence, abdominal distension, may
    obscure existence of pernicious anemia.

    What to do:

  • For symptoms of overdosage: Discontinue vitamin, and consult doctor. Also see ADVERSE REACTIONS OR SIDE EFFECTS section below.
  • For accidental overdosage (such as child taking entire bottle): Dial 911 (emergency), 0 for operator or your nearest Poison Control Center.

    ADVERSE REACTIONS OR SIDE EFFECTS

    Reaction or effect What to do
    Bright-yellow urine (always) Nothing.
    Diarrhea Discontinue. Call doctor immediately.
    Fever Discontinue. Call doctor immediately.
    Skin rash Discontinue. Call doctor when
    convenient.

    INTERACTION WITH MEDICINE, VITAMINS OR MINERALS

    Interacts with Combined effect
    Analgesics Decreases effect of folic
    acid.
    Antibiotics May cause false-low results
    in tests for serum-folic acid.
    Anti-convulsants Decreases effect of folic
    acid and anti-convulsant.
    Chloramphenicol Produces folic-acid
    deficiency.
    Cortisone drugs Decreases effect of folic
    acid.
    Methotrexate Decreases effect of folic
    acid.
    Oral contraceptives Decreases effect of folic
    acid. Those who take oral
    contraceptives require
    additional folic acid.
    Phenytoin Decrease phenytoin effect.
    Patients taking phenytoin
    should avoid taking folic
    acid.
    Pyrimethamine Decreases effect of folic
    acid and interferes with
    effectiveness of
    pyrimethamine. Avoid this
    combination.
    Quinine Decreases effect of folic
    acid.
    Sulfasalazine and other sulfa Decreases effect of folic
    drugs acid.
    Trimethoprim Decreases effect of folic
    acid.
    Trimterene Decreases effect of folic
    acid.

    INTERACTION WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES

  • Tobacco decreases absorption. Smokers may require supplemental folic acid.
  • Alcohol abuse makes deficiency more likely. Alcoholism is the principal cause of folic-acid deficiency.

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