Folic acid: instructions for use. Dosage of folic acid during pregnancy Folic acid 1 tablet how many mg
For the normal functioning of the human body, it is necessary to consume vitamins. With their deficiency, illnesses begin, health deteriorates, and chronic fatigue appears. One of the vitamins required by the body is folic acid, which is indispensable in the process of hematopoiesis and affects productive work. nervous system and brain.
Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin. It was first obtained from spinach leaves. Therefore, the name “folic” stands for “leaf” from the Latin word folium. It is also called vitamin B9. It occurs as an artificially synthesized substance or naturally in food.
What is folic acid for?
Vitamin B9 is an absolutely essential element for human health. It is folic acid that is involved in the creation of new blood cells. Participant in the synthesis of DNA, RNA, amino acids.
Promotes the growth of strong hair and nails, guarantees the stability of the nervous system and productive brain function, improves the performance of the heart and digestive system. Taking this supplement promotes the production of special enzymes, which prevent the occurrence of tumors.
With the help of vitamin B9, serotonin (the “joy hormone”) is released. When it is deficient, a person experiences depression and stress.
Vitamin B9 is especially necessary for women to improve appearance and maintaining health. For this reason, it is necessary to include foods that contain folic acid in your daily diet and take vitamins.
Vitamin B9 is also widely used in cosmetology. To give hair a healthy look and increase growth, the additive from ampoules in liquid form is added to masks and shampoos.
Release form
Pharmaceutical companies obtain vitamin B9 artificially and produce it in the form of tablets, powder, and ampoules.
The standard dosage of tablet or powder is 1 mg. In ampoules it is suitable for injections or cosmetic procedures. Vitamin B9 can also be part of complex vitamins.
How to take folic acid: instructions
The daily intake of the supplement is individual and depends on various factors. A rational dose for an adult is 2-5 mg per day. To provide healthy image life should be accepted as a minimum standard.
But with increased intellectual and physical activity, stress or illness, the dose must be increased. During pregnancy and lactation, the dosage of vitamin B9 is also increased. All standards must be set individually by a doctor. 
- infants – 0.25-0.45 mg;
- children under 14 years of age – 0.5-1.5 mg;
- children over 14 years old and adults – 2-4 mg;
- pregnant girls – 4-8 mg;
- nursing mother – 2-4 mg.
Folic acid supplements should be taken during or after meals. Children need to dissolve the tablet in water. The course of treatment is usually 60 days.
Is it important to take vitamin B9 when planning pregnancy?
As a rule, girls start taking vitamins when they are already in interesting position. But it is preferable to worry about the health of your own and your future child in advance.
The main condition for the full formation of the fetus is the intake necessary elements together with minerals and vitamins. A lack of required substances can negatively affect a woman’s health during pregnancy. Especially in the first trimester of pregnancy, when all the organs of the unborn baby are formed.
Women often lack vitamins. Replenishment also requires taking folic acid at the stage of pregnancy planning 2-3 months before the permissible date of conception.
This will help you get pregnant as quickly as possible and avoid fetal malformations. We found out above how to take folic acid when planning pregnancy.
Its lack when planning pregnancy can lead to the following problems in the future:
- miscarriage;
- frozen pregnancy;
- separated placenta;
- egg abnormality;
- congenital defects of the baby;
- anemia and, consequently, fetal hypoxia.
The importance of taking supplements during pregnancy
Taking vitamin B9 plays an important role during pregnancy. The formation of the fetal nervous system, including the spinal cord and brain, occurs with the help of folic acid.
In the first weeks from conception, the main organs of the unborn child are formed and developed. The girl may not yet know about pregnancy.
For this reason, it is important to start using vitamin B9 before conception (during pregnancy planning) and continue until childbirth. Women who are sick should definitely take it diabetes mellitus and epilepsy.
Diseases that may occur in a child due to vitamin B9 deficiency in a pregnant girl:
- anencephaly;
- hydrocephalus;
- heart disease;
- mental development disorder;
- spina bifida;
- cleft lip defect, etc.
To prevent such negative consequences, it is necessary to consume foods that contain folic acid and vitamins B9 in a dosage of up to 8 mg.
How much folic acid to take during pregnancy - the exact amount will be prescribed by your doctor.
What should men do?
Men, especially those planning pregnancy with their spouse, must understand that if there is a lack of vitamin B9 in the body, conceiving a baby may not occur at all. Folic acid has a positive effect on the fertilization process, namely:
- increases sperm motility;
- reduces the number of low-quality sperm with various defects;
- reduces the possibility of gene mutations in the unborn child;
- increases the likelihood of conceiving a healthy and strong child.
Representatives of the stronger sex are strongly advised to monitor the presence of foods containing vitamin B9 in their diet. It is also possible to take vitamin B9 in the form of tablets or as part of vitamin complexes.
After all, the first thing that can give to your own child father - quality genes. Your doctor will tell you how to properly take folic acid for a man.
Young men need it for proper puberty. After all, its lack gives rise to hormonal imbalance. Necessary hormones appear late.
This results in secondary sexual characteristics appearing later. Such teenagers experience inattention, memory impairment, loss of appetite, and they grow more slowly than their peers. In the future, these young men will have weak offspring.
All these problems can be solved quite easily: you just need to eat well and make sure there is enough vitamin B9 in your daily diet.
Foods rich in folic acid
It is necessary to eat foods containing vitamin B9 daily. Especially during pregnancy planning. The list of such products is quite wide:
- leafy greens: spinach, lettuce, parsley, dill, cilantro, sorrel, green onions, celery, asparagus;
- cereals and cereals: buckwheat, oatmeal, rice, products from whole grain flour, yeast;
- vegetables and fruits: cabbage, beets, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, onions, pumpkin, melon, peaches, watermelon, citrus fruits;
- nuts: walnuts, peanuts, hazelnuts, cashews, almonds, pistachios;
- sunflower seeds;
- green peas, beans and legumes;
- liver and kidneys, meat, cheese, cottage cheese, kefir, milk, chicken eggs;
- sea fish.
In many countries, flour or rice is specially fortified with folic acid. At the same time, the number of children born with developmental anomalies decreases.
It should be noted that vitamin B9 loses its beneficial qualities during heat treatment. For this reason, it is preferable to consume vegetables, fruits and greens in fresh. It is better to cook meat and fish by steaming.
Moreover, during the digestion of food, under the influence of alcohol, smoking and some medications, and with pathologies in the liver, approximately 50% of this valuable microelement is lost.
It has also been found that with healthy intestinal microflora, vitamin B9 can be produced inside the human body. But usually, due to the use of antibiotics, the activity of this microflora is disrupted.
In order to restore it, consume as much as possible fermented milk products and take medications with bifidobacteria.
Contraindications and precautions
Before you start taking vitamin B9, you should consult your doctor. After all, folic acid, like other medications, has contraindications.
It should not be taken if:
- deficiency or impaired absorption of vitamin B12;
- hemochromatosis;
- individual intolerance to the drug;
- hypersensitivity to the additive.
If you take the supplement for a long time, you should also take vitamins E and B12. This is necessary to prevent an increase in homocysteine, which leads to deterioration of the vascular walls.
Hypersensitivity or individual intolerance to vitamin B9 is usually expressed as an allergy. Therefore, before prescribing, you should definitely make sure that there are no allergic reactions. Otherwise there may appear side effects(rash, swelling).
The effectiveness of this vitamin is reduced when taken together with analgesics, some antitumor drugs, antibiotics, and anticonvulsants.
How does an excess or deficiency of a microelement affect your health?
A lack of vitamin B9 can affect the development of various diseases, since it plays an important role in the functioning of the human body.
Signs of vitamin B9 deficiency:
- Disruption of the digestive system: the acidity of gastric juice decreases, appetite worsens, the production of hydrochloric acid decreases (and, accordingly, the absorption of beneficial nutrients);
- Disturbances in the nervous system. Manifests itself in the form of insomnia, fatigue, depression, absent-mindedness, weakness, irritability, unjustified anxiety and a feeling of fear;
- Problems during pregnancy that may affect fetal development;
- Skin diseases and premature hair loss;
- Inflammation of the tongue and mucous membranes of the lips;
- Disturbances in child growth.
Also, girls taking contraceptives often have a lack of folic acid. Therefore, taking vitamin B9 is very important to avoid the above problems.
Hypovitaminosis (excess) of vitamin B9 can occur in very rare cases. Possible if you exceed the norm for taking medications with folic acid. The consequences of excess vitamin B9 are excessive excitability, sleep problems, and disturbances in intestinal function. In such a situation, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Thus, taking this supplement is very important for human health. Positively affects the functioning of the nervous system, circulatory system and blood composition, digestive system.
An indispensable supplement for women and men during the period of planning conception and pregnancy itself. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that you take enough vitamin B9 with food and vitamin complexes.
In the following video you can find out more information about folic acid.
Content
Those who dream of giving birth and raising a healthy child, having gorgeous hair and nails, and shining with beauty cannot do without this amazing vitamin. Indispensable from birth to old age, it can enter the body with food, in the form of finished preparations. You need to understand how folic acid works and what its benefits are.
Benefits of folic acid
This water-soluble vitamin belongs to group B, comes with food, a small amount is produced by the body - often this is enough for normal functioning. Sometimes you have to take a substance to the required level in a synthetic form. How is folic acid useful, why is so much attention paid to its quantity and presence?
Vitamin B9, another name for this substance, helps solve many problems. Its use helps:
- prepare for conception;
- give birth to a healthy child;
- improve memory;
- slow down aging;
- the child’s body grows;
- smooth out the symptoms of menopause;
- relieve irritability;
- prevent the formation of blood clots;
- get rid of anemia;
- normalize the psyche.
It is equally bad for a person to have a deficiency of this substance or an excess. When there is a vitamin deficiency:
- Fatigue comes quickly;
- hair loss begins;
- nails break;
- anemia occurs;
- thrombus formation increases;
- In women, symptoms worsen during menopause;
- in men, sperm motility is impaired;
- a child is born with pathologies.
An overdose of this substance may cause unpleasant symptoms and serious consequences:
- bitterness, metallic taste in the mouth;
- nausea;
- flatulence;
- vomit;
- diarrhea;
- increased excitability;
- deficiency of zinc, vitamin B12;
- cancer cell growth;
- kidney dysfunction;
- mental disorder in the elderly;
- development of breast adenocarcinoma;
- the appearance of prostate cancer.
This vitamin is indispensable in solving problems female beauty. The affordable price helps to use the drug in cosmetology, in addition to internal use, for the preparation of masks and medicinal solutions. The product is used for:
- fight against pigment spots;
- counteract hair loss;
- maintaining skin freshness;
- preventing the appearance of wrinkles;
- strengthening nails.
Action of folic acid
Although this drug is available and has a low price, it is indispensable for the body and greatly affects its functioning. This vitamin has the following properties:
- takes part in active cell division - helps skin renewal, growth and development of the fetus;
- promotes hematopoietic processes;
- protects the walls of blood vessels, preventing the formation of blood clots.
The participation of vitamin B9 is no less important for the processes:
- DNA formation - transmission of hereditary characteristics;
- carbohydrate and fat metabolism;
- increasing immunity;
- amino acid synthesis;
- production of enzymes that counteract the formation of tumors;
- muscle recovery in athletes;
- production of hydrochloric acid;
- iron absorption;
- exchange of adrenaline and serotonin.
Folic acid - instructions
The drug is produced in the form of ampoules for injections, tablets, and is part of multivitamin and dietary supplement complexes. The vitamin is well absorbed and is compatible with many medications. How much of this substance should I take? Instructions for use of folic acid recommend a daily dosage for an adult of 400 mcg. It increases during pregnancy and complex diseases.
You should take vitamin B9 as prescribed by your doctor - available side effects, contraindications for use. A rash, itching, redness of the skin, and bronchospasms may occur. The use of the drug is not recommended if:
- iron metabolism disorders;
- substance intolerance;
- poor absorption of vitamin B12;
- malignant neoplasms.
Indications for use are:
- anemia;
- infertility;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- gastroenteritis;
- atherosclerosis;
- mammary cancer;
- schizophrenia;
- migraine;
- osteoporosis;
- weakening of intelligence;
- menopause;
- preparation for conception;
- pregnancy;
- lactation period;
- depression.
During pregnancy
The period of waiting for a child is a huge change in the body. Why do pregnant women need folic acid, why is it necessary to take it? This is due to the formation of fetal systems and organs in the first months. Vitamin B9 for pregnant women helps:
- tissue growth due to cell division;
- transmission of hereditary characteristics;
- development of nervous tissue;
- formation of blood vessels of the placenta;
- creation of the hematopoietic system.
How much vitamin does a pregnant woman need? A woman’s body functions for two people, and the dosage increases proportionally. It is very convenient that the drug has affordable price– It is difficult to obtain the required portion of the substance from foods. The daily dosage for a pregnant woman should be 800 mcg. At this time, the drug is prescribed in the form:
- tablets;
- vitamin complexes;
- Dietary supplements.
If there is a deficiency of vitamin B9 in the body, problems for the woman and child are possible:
- hematopoietic disorder;
- neural tube defects;
- tendency to thrombosis;
- decreased immunity;
- mental retardation;
- miscarriage;
- the birth of a stillborn child;
- congenital deformities;
- oxygen starvation of the fetus.
When planning a pregnancy
In order to exclude developmental defects, a woman needs to plan a pregnancy - start taking the drug three months before conception. This will help accumulate the required amount for the period of increased load on the female body. The dosage of folic acid when planning pregnancy is 400 mcg per day, which will help avoid complications.
For men
Taking the vitamin is important for the male body already in adolescence for proper puberty. With its deficiency, problems with the nervous system and memory are possible. Folic acid is also important for men because it is responsible for the properties - quantity and motility of sperm. With a deficiency of the substance, infertility and the development of atherosclerosis are likely.
For children
The pediatrician decides how much and at what age to give this vitamin to children. The price of the drug is affordable, and its importance for the development of the body is enormous. To obtain the required dosage, a folic acid tablet for children is diluted with water, and the required amount is taken with a syringe. The substance helps:
- body growth;
- creating immunity;
- organ formation.
For hair
Cosmetologists use the drug to solve hair problems. Vitamins are available, inexpensive, and used in the form of masks for internal use. Using vitamin B9 for hair solves problems:
- loss;
- strength and shine;
- early gray hair;
- dryness;
- fragility;
- accelerating growth;
- thickness;
- hair follicles;
- split ends;
- improving the structure.
For anemia
If there is a deficiency of this vitamin in the body, the formation of red blood cells - erythrocytes - is disrupted. There are fewer of them, and their size increases, anemia appears. It is characterized by a decrease in hemoglobin and a disruption in the flow of oxygen into the blood. Folic acid for anemia helps solve the problem, goes away:
- fatigue;
- headache;
- pallor.
Price
It is possible to order vitamins from catalogs, then buy them in an online store. The price of folic acid in the pharmacy will be lower - there are no delivery costs. The cost of the vitamin depends on the form of release, manufacturer, quantity, and additional components in the composition. Price range in rubles:
- tablets – 1 mg, No. 50 – 28-45;
- Doppelhertz active with vitamins – No. 30 – 350-610;
- Solgar (dietary supplement) – 100 pieces – 760-1200.
What foods contain folic acid?
The richest sources of this vitamin are spinach, liver, and black beans. Its high content is in the following products:
- beef;
- chicken giblets;
- Brewer's yeast;
- salmon;
- buckwheat;
- legumes – peas, beans;
- citrus fruits – oranges, tangerines;
- greens - salads, parsley, dill;
- cabbage;
- peaches;
- apricots;
- avocado;
- rose hip.
Video
Our country is inhabited by fearless and generous people. Oddly enough, an extremely alarming trend has emerged in the Russian Federation - excessive consumption of folic acid in the form of pharmacological preparations in doses of 5000 mcg per 1 tablet, prescription of folic acid 1 mg (1000 mcg) 3-6 tablets per day. Domestic folic acid in 1 mg packages is widely prescribed 2 tablets x 2 times a day, 1 tablet x 3 times a day, 1 tablet a day.
I have a theory to explain this phenomenon. To the question: “What dose of folic acid should be recommended at the preconception stage and during pregnancy?”, most obstetricians and gynecologists confidently answer: “400-800 mcg/day.” There is probably some arithmetic gap in our education.
4 tablets of 1 mg per day, apparently, are associated by some experts with a dose of 400 mcg. This is the whole compote.
Unfortunately, this is not all. In our country, there is a whole cohort of very authoritative specialists who sincerely believe that a dose of 5 mg per day is necessary to prevent NTDs. Some of them have entrenched themselves in MONIIAG and dictate this norm for the entire Moscow region.
Indeed, such a point of view has a right to exist. It is necessary to distinguish between two directions: preventive (replenishment of daily needs) and high-dose vitamin therapy.
For high dose folic acid therapy there are certain readings:
- Compensation for folate deficiency during chemotherapy with antifolic drugs (methotrexate, a combination of sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim), anticonvulsants (phenytoin, primidone, phenobarbital).
- Deep hypovitaminosis and folic acid avitaminosis (Folium deficiency anemia - D 52 according to ICD X).
- Hyperhomocysteinemia.
- Alcoholism.
- Malabsorption in the gastrointestinal tract (diseases of the small intestine, sprue, malabsorption syndrome, etc.).
- Genetic predisposition: polymorphism 677 C>T of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and other polymorphisms of folate metabolism genes.
It has been known for a very long time that in our country they “bruise their foreheads” in their zeal. That’s why today we encounter masterpiece appointments:
Folacin 1 tablet x 3 times a day = 15,000 mcg of folic acid
Angiovit 1 tablet 2 times a day + folic acid 1 tablet x 3 times a day = 13,000 mcg per day
(They also complain that there is not enough folic acid and suggest adding another Elevit tablet. With Elevit it would be 13,800 mcg per day).
Why doesn't "more" mean "better"? In what
Folic acid is one of the vital vitamins. As a rule, there is not much of it in the usual diet, so vitamin B9 deficiency is far from uncommon. To replenish the balance, you need to know the correct dosage of folic acid and be able to properly consume additional folate.
Vitamin B9 (medical name is folic acid) is one of the most important nutrients for humans, which is needed for many processes in the body. Folic acid helps cells grow and maintain DNA integrity, so the vitamin prevents the development of cancer.
In addition, folic acid is involved in hematopoiesis and helps the functioning of the heart and blood vessels. By improving blood circulation, acid has a beneficial effect on the immune system, improves the functioning of the nervous system and general state body.
BY THE WAY
Our intestines can produce folic acid itself, but in very small quantities, so the bulk of this vitamin must come from food.
Reception features
Like any other drug, folic acid must be taken regularly. At the same time, take into account its interaction with other drugs. For example, acid reduces the effect of phenytoin, therefore, its dose needs to be increased.
A number of substances reduce the absorption of folic acid by the body:
- Antacids
- cholestyramine,
- some antibiotics (sulfonamides, chloramphenicol, tetracyclines, neomycin, polymyxin)
The effect can also be reduced by:
- cytostatic drugs ( Methotrexate),
- antibacterial agents (Pyrimethamine),
- diuretics (Triamterene).
With this option, instead of folic acid, doctors prescribe calcium folinate.
How to take for prevention
For prevention, small daily doses of B9 are used: 400 mcg for adult.
For teenagers this dosage may be prescribed to prevent anemia, immunodeficiency and retarded physical development.
Women Those planning pregnancy are recommended to take 1 mg of acid per day once medicinal purposes for six months to reduce all kinds of fetal malformations.
When is the best time to take
"Folka" must be taken orally after meal, as indicated in all instructions for the drug.
The fact is that taking vitamins on an empty stomach can lead to irritation of the gastric mucosa: like other acids, folic acid increases its acidity. This provokes stomach diseases - gastritis, ulcers, etc.
If you take a vitamin while eating, food will be more difficult to digest, since the acid forms an insoluble complex with zinc.
Important: If you miss a pill, you do not need to take a double dose
Admission to courses
To maintain optimal levels of folic acid in the body, it is necessary to consume it daily.
ADVICE:
It is better to drink any vitamins in the morning during breakfast with big amount liquids. This way the body can easily remove undigested vitamin excess.
How many folic acid tablets should you take per day?
The number of tablets depends on the mass in it active substance, since folic acid is now sold in different dosages.
Most often, folic acid is sold in pharmacies in a dosage of 1 mg. For medicinal purposes, you need to use 1-2 tablets. per day. Pregnant women - 1 tablet per day for prevention.
Folic acid and vitamin E: dosage regimen
Vitamin E and folic acid - a pair of useful elements that complement each other. Most often, gynecologists prescribe this combination of vitamins to girls from the first stages of pregnancy or to those who are just planning it.
Vitamin E and B9 guarantee full development internal organs child and central nervous system development. Vitamin E is directly responsible for the reproductive system, increases a girl’s fertility, reduces the threat of miscarriage in the short term, and prevents the placenta from exfoliating.
When consumed with folic acid, the intestinal wall is strengthened, the mother’s condition improves: efficiency increases, immunity strengthens, and the nervous system is restored.
Optimal dosage:
- Vitamin B9 (folic acid) - 0.8 mg per day.;
- Vitamin E (tocopherol) - 0.3 mg per day..
Is it possible to take folic acid without prescription?
Any pharmacy will tell you that this medicine is available without a doctor's prescription.
If you find yourself deficient in folic acid, then the smallest daily dose will not harm you, since the excess is eliminated by the body on its own.
Most best option– Dietary supplements that already contain folic acid. Like vitamin complexes, dietary supplements contain many other useful substances.
ADVICE
:
The daily amount of folic acid is determined by various factors: gender, age, lifestyle and body condition; Only a doctor can help you in the selection.
Despite the widespread belief that folate is easily excreted from the body and an overdose is impossible, it must be taken into account that the vitamin has a number of contraindications:
- increased sensitivity to B9,
- malignant anemia,
- oncology,
- vitamin B12 deficiency.
Release forms
Folic acids in pharmacies can be found in the form of powders or tablets (usually 1 mg, 25 and 50 pieces per pack).
However, there are other forms of release:
100 mcg
- the minimum dosage can be prescribed by a doctor for prevention;
- 100 mcg is how many mg: 0.1 mg
400 mcg
- dosage in tablets 400 mcg:
1 tab. per day (if there is no deficiency), or half a tablet (1/2 tablet of acid) with a dosage of 1 mg per day - for children over 4 years of age and adults as maintenance treatment; pregnant women to prevent fetal defects - 400 mcg is how many mg: 0.4 mg;
- folic acid 400 mcg is how many tablets:
1 tab. dosage of 400 mcg or a quarter of a tablet with a dosage of 1 mg is the recommended daily dose for women of childbearing age and during pregnancy.
800 mcg
- dosage in tablets 800 mcg:
1 tab. or a little less than 1 tablet. a dosage of 1 mg is prescribed during pregnancy and lactation. - 800 mcg is how many mg: 0.8 mg
1 mg
- dosage in tablets 1 mg:
1 tab. for the treatment of anemia, pregnant women - from 1.2 to 2.5 tablets. per day in the first trimester. - 1 mg is how many micrograms: 1000 mcg
4 mg
- dosage in 4 mg tablets:
attributed to planning pregnancy. There is no need to be afraid of such doses: if the doctor prescribed this volume for you, it means that you or your baby are lacking B9
5 mg
- dosage in tablets 5 mg:
adults 1 tablet. per day for the treatment of vitamin deficiency, for children - in smaller doses depending on age - 5 mg is how many grams: 0.005 g
Folic acid dosage for children
Folic carbon dioxide is necessary for the growth and proper development of the body, because the body’s immunity is developed directly in childhood, the main life-support systems are formed, so it is important to give the child all the necessary vitamins for its construction.
Baby
Infants are recommended 25 mcg of folic acid every day. With normal development, the baby receives all nutrients from mother's milk, but if the doctor reveals a lack of nutrients in the newborn, B9 is prescribed additionally. Premature babies often need folic acid.
Teenager
During adolescence, B9 is necessary for children for the normal course of sexual development: vitamin B9 helps the young body establish hormonal balance. During adolescence, many face problems with the skin of the face and body: acne, pimples, redness. With the help of folic acid you can fight redness and irritation of the skin.
To prevent vitamin deficiency, children at this age are recommended to take 150-200 mcg, which is half a tablet with a dosage of 400 mcg. But you need to remember that if the body needs restoration, then the doctor determines the therapeutic dose of acid.
Schoolboy
Folic acid for children school age from 6 to 10 years old, it is prescribed at a dosage of 100 mcg per day; from 10 to 14 years – 150 mcg.
Schoolchildren need vitamin B9 to regulate brain activity to help children cope with their academic workload and relieve emotional stress.
How much folic acid do children need: summarizing
Daily value for women
To maintain the balance of vitamins in the body, an adult woman needs to take at least 400 mcg of folate per day.
In addition to the fact that vitamin B9 strengthens the body, normalizes internal processes and improves general condition, folic acid (folic acid, as mothers like to call it) is of particular importance for women:
- has a beneficial effect on the reproductive organs,
- stops hair loss, rejuvenates and tones the skin;
- normalizes hormonal levels;
- reduces menopause symptoms;
How many times to take per day
Doctors advise taking folic acid (vitamin B9) like all other vitamins according to the following regimen: 1 time per day, preferably in the morning, with meals. Drink with a small amount of water.
Daily norm when planning pregnancy
Doctors always prescribe folate for pregnant women. Normally, a woman should receive 400–600 mcg of acid per day, this is half a tablet with a dosage of 1 mg.
Daily value for pregnant women
How many weeks should I take folic acid?
Due to the fact that folate is not accumulated by the body, acid is needed already in the first weeks of pregnancy, doctors recommend taking it at the planning stage of the baby.
IMPORTANT!A woman's body needs vitamin B9 most in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
Daily value for nursing mothers
At breastfeeding a young mother should drink this medicine in a dosage of at least 500-800 mcg of “folk” per day. It is better to take it as part of dietary supplements or multivitamins, since at this moment not only the mother’s body needs nutrients, but also the baby’s.
Daily value for men
If the male body receives at least 700 mcg of folic acid daily, the risk of sperm formation with different types abnormalities in chromosomes by 25-30%.
To avoid infertility in men, it is recommended to take B9 together with vitamin E.
When a couple is planning a pregnancy, a man needs to take folic acid 2-3 months in advance.
Conclusion
- Vitamin B9 ( in other words folic acid) participates in the formation circulatory system and immunity.
- Folic acid is primarily needed women, who decided get pregnant, as it participates in the normalization of the process of formation and development of the fetus.
- Folic acid for men necessary for good functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, improving memory, and increasing fertility.
- Folic acid is prescribed children to improve appetite, brain function and immunity.
In contact with
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.
Learn more about folic acid and the foods that the body gets some of it from. daily norm this vitamin is possible.
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 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 increases greatly premature birth and placental abruption.
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 consume 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, which are on breastfeeding, no additional intake of folic acid is required, 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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