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    FolicAcid - British Dietetic Association PDF

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    Widyaningrum Agus Sukarno
    Folic acid is a B vitamin that is vital for the formation of red blood cells and DNA. It is found naturally in many foods as folate and is also added to fortified foods. The Fact Sheet discusses the importance of folic acid before and during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects, and explains recommendations for intake through foods or supplements based on life stage and health status. While folic acid has benefits, the Fact Sheet notes there are also concerns about masking B12 deficiency and potentially increasing cancer risk at high levels, so intake through diet is emphasized over long-term high-dose supplements.

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    FolicAcid - British Dietetic Association PDF

    Uploaded by

    Widyaningrum Agus Sukarno
    219 views2 pages
    Folic acid is a B vitamin that is vital for the formation of red blood cells and DNA. It is found naturally in many foods as folate and is also added to fortified foods. The Fact Sheet discusses the importance of folic acid before and during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects, and explains recommendations for intake through foods or supplements based on life stage and health status. While folic acid has benefits, the Fact Sheet notes there are also concerns about masking B12 deficiency and potentially increasing cancer risk at high levels, so intake through diet is emphasized over long-term high-dose supplements.

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    Folic acid is a B vitamin that is vital for the formation of red blood cells and DNA. It is found naturally in many foods as folate and is also added to fortified foods. The Fact Sheet discusses the importance of folic acid before and during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects, and explains recommendations for intake through foods or supplements based on life stage and health status. While folic acid has benefits, the Fact Sheet notes there are also concerns about masking B12 deficiency and potentially increasing cancer risk at high levels, so intake through diet is emphasized over long-term high-dose supplements.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    219 views2 pages

    FolicAcid - British Dietetic Association PDF

    Uploaded by

    Widyaningrum Agus Sukarno
    Folic acid is a B vitamin that is vital for the formation of red blood cells and DNA. It is found naturally in many foods as folate and is also added to fortified foods. The Fact Sheet discusses the importance of folic acid before and during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects, and explains recommendations for intake through foods or supplements based on life stage and health status. While folic acid has benefits, the Fact Sheet notes there are also concerns about masking B12 deficiency and potentially increasing cancer risk at high levels, so intake through diet is emphasized over long-term high-dose supplements.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    BDA

    Food Fact Sheet

    THE BRITISH
    BDA FOOD
    FACT SHEET
    DIETETIC
    ASSOCIATION

    Folic Acid

    Folic acid, together with vitamin B12, is necessary to


    form red blood cells. Deficiency of folic acid can cause
    a type of anaemia (reduced oxygen-carrying ability of
    red blood cells) called macrocytic (large cell) anaemia.
    Both vitamins together also help nerves to function
    properly. Folic acid is also essential for the formation of
    DNA (genetic material) within every body cell, allowing
    each cell to replicate perfectly.

    Sources of folic acid


    Folate is found naturally in a wide variety of foods and is
    also present in foods fortified with folic acid. As folic acid
    is a water-soluble vitamin (dissolves easily in water)
    it is lost from vegetables during cooking. This can be
    reduced by avoiding over-cooking, and steaming or
    microwaving vegetables instead of boiling.

    How much do I need?


    Men, children and women who are not likely to become
    pregnant should be able to obtain sufficient amounts of
    folate in their diet by eating a healthy diet containing a
    wide variety of foods.

    Spinach, kale, Brussels sprouts, cabbage,


    broccoli
    Beans and legumes (e.g. peas, blackeye beans)
    Yeast and beef extracts
    Oranges and orange juice
    Wheat bran and other wholegrain foods
    Poultry, pork, shellfish and liver
    Fortified foods (e.g. some brands of breakfast
    cereals check the label)

    The form of folic acid


    occurring naturally in food is
    called folate.

    What happens if I dont get


    enough?

    Folic acid deficiency can result in some general


    symptoms tiredness (caused by anaemia), weakness,
    diarrhoea, loss of appetite and weight loss. Lack of folic
    acid can also cause headaches, heart palpitations, a
    sore tongue and behavioural disorders.
    Deficiency can occur if the diet is inadequate or if
    requirements increase (such as during pregnancy).
    Sometimes deficiency can occur if folic acid losses are
    excessive (such as Crohns disease or untreated coeliac
    disease) and from the use of some medications such as
    water tablets (diuretics), or in alcoholism.

    Pregnancy and lactation


    (breast feeding)
    The foetus rapidly develops spine and nerve cells in the
    first few weeks of pregnancy. Inadequate blood levels of
    folate at this crucial time increase the risk of the babys
    spine developing a neural tube defect, resulting in
    spinal malformation called spina bifida.

    During the whole of pregnancy


    and lactation, it is advisable
    to eat a diet rich in folate as
    requirements for the vitamin
    are higher.

    What does folic acid do?

    Good sources of folic acid

    Folic acid is a B vitamin which is vital


    for the formation of red blood cells. The
    form of folic acid occurring naturally in
    food is called folate. This Fact Sheet
    will tell you all about folic acid which
    foods are good sources, how much you
    need, and who should take supplements.

    www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts
    For this reason, every woman considering pregnancy,
    and up to the 12th week of pregnancy is advised to:
    take a folic acid supplement, or pregnancy specific
    vitamin supplement providing 400g every day

    Daily recommendations for


    folate (folic acid) intake
    (g = micrograms)

    eat a diet rich in folates and folic acid from foods


    naturally containing the vitamin and from fortified
    foods.

    Folic acid and heart disease


    Research has demonstrated that folic acid supplements
    can reduce high levels of homocysteine an amino acid
    in blood that irritates blood vessels which has been
    associated with increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
    A high level of homocysteine is found in populations
    with a high incidence of heart disease, which is the
    main cause of death in the UK. However, it has not
    been proven that reducing homocysteine levels reduces
    rates of heart disease or stroke. Homocysteine level is
    thought to be a indicator rather than a risk factor for
    heart disease.

    Folic acid supplements and food


    fortification
    Despite recommendations, many women do not take
    folic acid supplements in early pregnancy. Routine
    fortification of flour with folic acid is a simple
    way to increase folic acid intake for everyone.
    Many countries have introduced
    mandatory fortification of flour
    with folic acid, significantly
    reducing the number of
    neural tube defect births.
    The UK has been cautious
    in recommending this for a
    number of reasons.
    Firstly, although folic acid
    supplements can correct
    the anaemia caused by
    vitamin B12 deficiency, this
    masks the ongoing damage to
    nerves caused by B12 deficiency
    until irreversible nerve damage occurs. Older people are
    most at risk as uptake of vitamin B12 from diet reduces
    with age. However, countries with mandatory folic acid
    flour fortification have little proof that more people have
    developed nerve damage as a result of vitamin B12
    deficiency since the flour had been fortified.
    Also some research suggests that folic acid at doses
    greater than 1 mg/day may increase the risk of
    developing colorectal cancer in people with a history

    Adults and children over 11 years: 200g


    Any woman considering pregnancy:
    200g plus a supplement* containing
    400g
    Pregnant women: 300g plus a 400g
    supplement* during the first 12 weeks of
    pregnancy
    Lactating women: 260g
    *Some women need to take 5mg/d of folic acid preconception and up to 12
    weeks of pregnancy i.e. if you have had a pregnancy previously affected by
    neural tube defects or if you have diabetes - ask your doctor.

    of colorectal cancer or in older people. However, other


    research found that folic acid does not have a significant
    effect in promoting cancer.
    Experts have now considered all of this evidence and
    have recommended that the UK should fortify flour with
    folic acid. They have also suggested that there should
    be controls on voluntary fortification of foods and advice
    should be given to people about supplements.

    Can I take too much?


    It is advisable for those aged over 50 years or those
    with a history of bowel cancer, not to take folic acid
    supplements containing more than 200g/day. For other
    people,* long-term intakes of folic acid from fortified
    foods and supplements should be below 1mg/day for
    adults (lower amounts for children).

    Summary
    Most people (other than pregnant women/women
    who could become pregnant) should be able to
    obtain sufficient folate in their diet by eating plenty of
    vegetables, fruit, beans and wholegrains. These foods
    will be naturally high in folate and may protect against
    bowel cancer and heart disease.

    This Food Fact Sheet is a public service of The British Dietetic Association (BDA) intended for
    information only. It is not a substitute for proper medical diagnosis or dietary advice given by a dietitian.
    If you need to see a dietitian, visit your GP for a referral or www.freelancedietitians.org for a private
    dietitian. To check your dietitian is registered check www.hpc-uk.org
    This Food Fact Sheet and others are available to download free of charge at www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts
    Written by Dr Gail Rees, Dietitian.
    The information sources used to develop this Food Fact Sheet are available at
    www.bda.uk.com/foodfacts BDA June 2013. Review date June 2016. Version 2.

    BDA

    THE BRITISH
    DIETETIC
    ASSOCIATION

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