Vitamins that do not contain folic acid. Vitamin B9

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 issues of 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 - there are side effects and 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 an affordable price - it is difficult to get the required portion of the substance from products. 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 necessary amount for the period of increased stress 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.

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The site provides reference information for informational purposes only. Diagnosis and treatment of diseases must be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. All drugs have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist is required!

general information

About the benefits folic acid(vitamin B 9) people have known for a long time, but only in the last 10 years have doctors begun to actively promote preventive courses of taking folic acid for pregnant women and those suffering from iron deficiency anemia.

Folic acid takes part in metabolism, in the production of DNA, plays an important role in the synthesis of immune blood cells, and normalizes the function of the digestive tract. Folic acid is essential for pregnant women as it plays an important role in the development of the fetal neural tube. With a normal level of vitamin B 9, the likelihood of malformations in the fetus is significantly reduced. In addition, it is necessary for the normal growth and development of the placenta.

History of discovery

In 1926, microbiologist V. Efremov discovered a specific form of anemia in pregnant women - megaloblastic anemia. At that time, vitaminology was developing rapidly, many scientists conducted research in this area of ​​knowledge. Most attention was paid to the nutritional factor. Efremov accurately determined the presence of a certain anti-anemic factor in the liver tissue - significant improvements were observed in patients who received liver products in their diet.

In 1932, the British physician Wills, who worked for many years in India, found that some pregnant women suffering from megaloblastic anemia did not experience improvement when consuming a purified extract of liver cells. However, these women recovered completely after consuming the crude extract. From this, Wils concluded that during cleansing, some important factor responsible for recovery was destroyed. This substance was soon isolated and given the name Wheels factor. Later it was called vitamin M. In 1941, it was found that spinach and parsley leaves are rich in this substance - so it was renamed folic acid (translated from the Latin folium - leaf).

Mechanism of action

Once in the body, vitamin B 9 is converted into tetrahydrofolate, which serves as a component of many enzymes and also participates in a number of biochemical reactions, such as protein metabolism. As a result, the body synthesizes amino acids, epinephrine and some other factors necessary for the formation of proteins. Also, vitamin B 9 has an effect similar to estrogens - it determines the proper development of a woman’s reproductive system.

It is well known that the first and most important stage of division of any cell is the division of the DNA molecule. It is in the process of DNA replication that vitamin B 9 takes an active part. In addition, it plays an important role in the synthesis of RNA, amino acids, and improves iron absorption. Therefore, a lack of folic acid is primarily dangerous for rapidly dividing cells.

Your mood also depends on your folic acid level. It takes part in the metabolism of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and adrenaline, which have a significant impact on the functioning of the nervous system.

Folic acid stimulates appetite and takes part in the secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.

Folic acid requirement

The human liver usually contains some amount of folacin, which can prevent hypovitaminosis for 3-6 months. The body of an adult needs 0.4 mg of folic acid per day, during pregnancy and lactation - 0.4-0.6 mg, a child of 1 year of life - 0.04-0.06 mg. When the intestinal flora is normal, vitamin B 9 can be produced endogenously.

Folic acid and pregnancy

Maintaining normal folic acid levels daily in the months before pregnancy helps reduce the risk of congenital malformations. Clinical studies have demonstrated that 80% of malformations can be prevented if a woman begins to compensate for the deficiency of vitamin B 9 even before pregnancy.

In the Russian Federation, it is generally accepted that the requirement of pregnant women without symptoms of deficiency of this micronutrient is 0.4 mg per day. During breastfeeding, the requirement is 0.6 mg per day.

During pregnancy, a woman's body uses much more folic acid than before pregnancy. Vitamin B 9 is not stored in reserve, so it is important to get it daily from external sources. It is very important to maintain the required level of folic acid in the first trimester, when the fetal nervous system is developing.

The most important role of vitamin B 9 for the fetus is the development of the neural tube. It also takes part in the renewal and mitosis of cells in the mother’s body, in particular the cells of internal organs, which must be constantly renewed.

Already in the second week of pregnancy, the embryo's brain begins to actively develop. It is at this time that even a short-term deficiency of vitamin B 9 threatens with serious, often irreparable consequences. Since this micronutrient is necessary during the process of mitosis, which is extremely important for rapidly dividing and developing cells (which primarily include neurons and other cells of nervous tissue), its deficiency primarily affects the developing nervous system.

Folic acid is involved in the production of basic blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets), which is important for both the mother and the fetus.

For the normal course of pregnancy, maintaining the health of the woman and the fetus, doctors recommend starting to take folic acid in the form of tablets 2-3 months before the planned pregnancy, and continue until childbirth. When consuming vitamin B 9, you must adhere to the doses recommended by your doctor, since an excess of this micronutrient is just as dangerous as its deficiency.

Vitamin B 9 is the only micronutrient whose role during pregnancy is not underestimated even by opponents of synthetic vitamin preparations and medications in general. Therefore, even if you avoid any medications during pregnancy, do not refuse a course of vitamin B 9, at least for preventive purposes - this will save you and your child from a number of unjustified risks. Although sometimes you should compare the dosage prescribed by your doctor with the body's needs for folic acid.

Folic acid deficiency and its consequences

When food is thermally processed, up to 90% of vitamin B9, which is part of raw foods, can be lost. For example, when frying meat, up to 95% of vitamin B9 is destroyed, when cooking meat and products of plant origin - from 70 to 90%, when boiling eggs - about half.

Vitamin B9 deficiency can develop due to its low content in the diet, impaired absorption of micronutrients in the intestines, or when the need for this substance increases (pregnancy, lactation).

A common cause of this hypovitaminosis is regular consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Lack of folic acid is the most common symptom in pregnant women and children in the first year of life. Vitamin B 9 deficiency in the fetus develops as a result of its lack in the mother's body, and in infants - due to its insufficient content in breast milk.

Deficiency of folic acid in the body of a pregnant woman can serve as a factor in the whole a number of serious violations:

• miscarriage;
• congenital malformations;
• mental retardation;
• neural tube malformation;
• spina bifida (in the fetus);
• malformations of the circulatory system;
• cleft lip or cleft palate;
• anemia.

Symptoms of vitamin B9 deficiency may take 8-30 days to appear, depending on your diet. The first symptoms of this hypovitaminosis are loss of strength, nervousness and poor appetite. We should not forget about replenishing the deficiency of vitamin B 9 during breastfeeding, since the body maintains the required level of this vitamin in milk even to its own detriment. Therefore, when there is a lack of folic acid in the diet of a nursing mother, the above symptoms often occur, which increase postpartum depression.

A lack of vitamin B 9 is not always accompanied by obvious symptoms. However, according to research results, a lack of folic acid is present in 20-100% of people, depending on where they live. This is one of the most common hypovitaminosis. However, even in the absence of certain clinical symptoms, the likelihood of heart attack and stroke increases significantly, and immunity decreases.

Folic acid deficiency often leads to the development of pernicious anemia in premature infants. An increase in the need for vitamin B 9 occurs in a number of pathologies: leukemia, hemolytic anemia, chronic infectious diseases, carcinomatosis.

First of all, with a lack of vitamin B 9, megaloblastic anemia develops. With this type of anemia, not only does the content of red blood cells in the blood decrease, but their activity is also disrupted, since most of them do not mature in the bone marrow. If the lack of folic acid is not compensated for, symptoms such as decreased appetite, nervousness, and loss of strength develop. Later vomiting, diarrhea, and alopecia appear. Morphological abnormalities of the skin and the appearance of ulcers in the oral cavity and pharynx are possible. If treatment is not started promptly, megaloblastic anemia can lead to death.

In recent years, a number of clinical trials have been conducted, as a result of which it was found that vitamin B9 deficiency, disrupting the metabolism of sulfur amino acids, leads to a retention of the amino acid homocysteine ​​in the blood. Homocysteine ​​has a negative effect on the intima of blood vessels, which leads to the appearance of atherosclerotic plaques and increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Impaired absorption of vitamin B 9 can occur with stomach diseases, gastrectomy, when the body experiences a deficiency of antianemic factors (Castle factors) synthesized in the stomach. Folic acid can enter the blood only by combining with antianemic factors; accordingly, when they are deficient, the level of folic acid in the blood drops.

In addition to folic acid, Castle factor transports cyanocobalamin into the blood. Therefore, prolonged use of vitamin B 9 preparations in increased dosages can lead to a lack of cyanocobalamin.

Also, a lack of vitamin B 9 is observed in severe liver pathologies. It is in the liver that the vitamin is transformed into tetrahydrofolate, which takes part in biochemical reactions. Folic acid in its primary form is useless to the body.

If the body experiences a deficiency of vitamin B 9, the functioning of the hematopoietic system may be disrupted: red blood cells become immature, and defective cells that are not able to transport oxygen are released into the blood. This is one of the reasons for malformation of the nervous system in the fetus, since neurons cannot fully grow and develop under hypoxic conditions.

Together with red blood cells, the synthesis of leukocytes and platelets is disrupted, which can provoke a decrease in immunity and disrupt blood clotting. In pregnant women, vitamin B9 deficiency may be accompanied by iron deficiency. This increases the risk for both mother and baby.

Vitamin B9 deficiency can develop due to a lack of vitamins in the diet, fasting, or following unbalanced diets for weight loss. However, the most common factor of vitamin B9 deficiency is dysbiosis. Dysbacteriosis develops as a result of prolonged, often uncontrolled use of antibiotic drugs, incl. without a doctor's prescription.

In the United States, there is a law according to which the manufacturer is required to add a certain amount of vitamin B 9 to flour in order to prevent deficiency of this substance among consumers. In the USA, the prophylactic dose of vitamin B 9 is twice as high as in the Russian Federation.

Foods containing folic acid

Vitamin B 9 is part of all tissues of humans, animals, plants and microorganisms. The human body is unable to produce folic acid. Therefore, it is obtained from food or produced by the microflora of the colon. Therefore, if intestinal functions are impaired or dysbiosis, the production of vitamin B 9 may be insufficient. In such situations, an additional source of this micronutrient is needed.

Vitamin B 9 is found in large quantities in plant foods: spinach, onions, dill, parsley, beans, peas, buckwheat, oats, bran, bananas, walnuts, grapefruit, dried apricots, melon, yeast, pumpkin, mushrooms, beets, turnips and etc.

Also a source of folic acid is meat and animal products: beef, lamb, pork, liver, kidneys, poultry, milk, eggs, trout, perch, cheese, etc.

A bowl of cereal porridge with milk and a glass of fresh orange juice replenishes 50% of the body's daily requirement for vitamin B9.

Consumption of bifidobacteria stimulates the endogenous formation of folic acid in the intestines.

Vitamin B 9 decomposes quite quickly under the influence of sunlight and simply during prolonged storage of food, as well as during temperature treatment of products. Folic acid contained in plant foods is destroyed most quickly. Folic acid in meat is more stable.

Therefore, to preserve the vitamin in foods, it is recommended to consume raw foods. Vegetables are best consumed in the form of raw salads. It is best to add garden cabbage, parsley, dill, beet leaves, mint or dandelion to this salad. It is also useful to add young nettles to the salad. It is better to drink orange and tomato juices - they contain the most folic acid.

Among meat products, the liver contains the most folic acid. The liver can be lightly fried and boiled for a short time - in this case, the vitamin B 9 included in its composition is not destroyed.

Medicines containing folic acid

Folic acid tablets– the most convenient dosage form for dosing (one tablet contains 1 mg of the substance). In addition, today this is the most economical option. To completely compensate for a pregnant woman’s deficiency in vitamin B9, it is enough to take 1 tablet per day. However, given the prevalence of folic acid deficiency, which may not manifest itself externally, 2-3 months before pregnancy and in the first trimester, you can take 2-3 tablets per day. This dosage is recommended by doctors, since an overdose from such an amount of the drug is impossible, and the consequences of a lack of folic acid are extremely dangerous. In this situation, doctors resort to justified reinsurance.

Folic acid is available in the form of a drug Folacin. One tablet of the drug contains 5 mg of vitamin B9. This is much more than the daily norm even for a pregnant woman. Excess folic acid has neither positive nor negative effects, but is simply excreted from the body. 1 tablet Apo-Folika also contains 5 mg of vitamin B 9. Given the increased content of the substance in the tablet, Folacin and Apo-Folik are used only in cases of acute and severe vitamin deficiency. For preventive purposes, these drugs are not recommended.

In one tablet of the drug Folio contains 0.4 mg of vitamin B 9 and 0.2 mg of iodine. The advantage of this dosage form is that it contains two micronutrients, so there is no need for additional use of iodine preparations. The dose of vitamin B 9 in one tablet is low, so it is recommended as a preventive drug. Folio is not prescribed for acute deficiency or increased need for folic acid.

Vitamin B 9 is included in multivitamin preparations for pregnant women. Folic acid content per tablet Each drug is different:

• Materna – 1 mg;
• Elevit – 1 mg;
• Vitrum prenatal – 0.8 mg
• Vitrum prenatal forte – 0.8 mg
• Multi-tabs perinatal – 0.4 mg
• Pregnavit – 0.75 mg.

All complexes contain a prophylactic dose, so the dosage of vitamin B 9 should be calculated taking into account its content in the vitamin complex. With a normal level of folic acid in the body, there is no need for folic acid preparations if the pregnant woman is already taking any multivitamin complexes.

Vitamin B 9 is absorbed much better from medications than from foods.

In addition to pharmaceuticals, folic acid can be obtained from dietary supplements.

Indications

Folic acid is indicated for the following conditions:

• folate deficiency anemia;
• anemia as a complication after gastrectomy;
• sprue (tropical diarrhea);
• chronic intestinal inflammation;
• intestinal tuberculosis;
• pregnancy;
• lactation period;
• vitamin B deficiency 9.

Taking the drug in therapeutic doses (exceeding the daily requirement) is indicated in two cases:

• if there are pronounced signs of folic acid deficiency (in this case, the dosage is calculated individually by the attending physician);
• if there are factors that increase the need for vitamin B9, or stimulate its excretion from the body.

Cases in which it is necessary to take therapeutic doses of the drug:

• use of combined oral contraceptives before conception;
• use of Maalox or Phosphalugel;
• taking anticonvulsants during planning and pregnancy;
• protein diet before conception;
• lack of plant foods in the diet;
• disruption of the digestive tract;
• vomiting during pregnancy.

Folic acid is used in the treatment of tropical diarrhea (sprue). Sprue is a progressive inflammation of the small intestine, accompanied by diarrhea, impaired intestinal absorption, dystrophic condition, symptoms of megaloblastic anemia, dysfunction of the endocrine glands and progressive calcium deficiency. The main factors causing tropical diarrhea: infection, vitamin deficiency, protein deficiency in the diet with an excess of saccharides. With this pathology, vitamin B 9 is taken 5 mg per day in order to normalize the process of red blood cell synthesis.

Clinical trials have demonstrated that vitamin B9 may have a beneficial effect in preventing Alzheimer's disease. Individuals with this pathology, as a rule, have reduced levels of folic acid and cyanocobalamin in the blood.

Directions for use and doses

If a woman has any of the above factors, then during pregnancy planning and in the first trimester it is necessary to consume 2-3 mg of vitamin B 9 per day. Also, taking the drug in a higher dosage is necessary if there is a high probability of disruption of the development of the neural tube. This risk is present in women with epilepsy, diabetes, and also in the presence of similar disorders in direct relatives.

The need for folic acid during pregnancy is 0.4 – 0.8 mg per day. However, in case of deficiency, the dosage is significantly increased in order to compensate for the lack of vitamin. The neural tube of the embryo begins to develop at 3-5 weeks of pregnancy. At this time, a woman may not know about pregnancy and may not undergo a timely course of compensation for folic acid deficiency. Therefore, vitamin B 9 must be taken another 1-3 months before the expected pregnancy. The most important thing is to maintain the required level of folic acid in the first trimester.

Folic acid should be taken during lactation in the amount of 0.3 mg per day (can be in the form of a multivitamin complex). This serves as a preventative course for both mother and child. If you use the drug in higher doses (for example, 1 mg), then the excess amount of vitamin is simply removed from the woman’s body, without harming either her or the baby.

It is important to maintain regular intake of vitamin B9. However, given that any drug contains a dose that exceeds the daily requirement for the vitamin, skipping one dose should not cause concern.

• Atherosclerosis. 5 mg of vitamin B 9 per day for two weeks, then 1 mg. It is recommended to take it as a B-complex vitamin.
• Aphthous stomatitis. As a rule, aphthae (ulcers on the oral mucosa) appear along with cracks on the lips due to a deficiency of vitamins and micronutrients involved in hematopoiesis. Among them: vitamin B 9, iron and cyanocobalamin. The recommended dosage is 5 mg of vitamin B 9 3 times a day and 10 mg of iron glycinate for 120-180 days. Once every 30 days, inject cyanocobalamin - 1 mg. During treatment, it is necessary to regularly check the level of cyanocobalamin.
• Viral hepatitis. Folic acid is used as an adjuvant. It is recommended to take 5 mg 3 times a day for 10 days, then 5 mg once a day.
• Gingivitis and periodontitis. Take 1 mg of vitamin B orally 9 times a day, rinse the mouth 2 times a day for one minute with a 1% solution of the vitamin for 60-70 days.
• Depression. Often observed in individuals with folic acid deficiency. Take 2-5 mg every day in combination with B-group vitamins.
• Osteochondrosis. Vitamin B 9 is involved in the formation of a framework from collagen on which calcium salts accumulate. Without a collagen framework, the bone does not acquire the necessary strength. The recommended dosage is once a day 5 mg of vitamin B9, 50 mg of vitamin B6, 50 mg of B-complex vitamins.
• Colon tumor. If any of your direct relatives have had this cancer, it is strongly recommended to take 1-5 mg of vitamin B 9 and 100 mg of B-complex vitamins once a day.
• Colon spasm. Manifests itself in the form of alternating constipation and diarrhea, colic and bloating. A lack of vitamin B 9 can lead to chronic constipation, which leads to spasm of the colon. You need to start with 10 mg of the vitamin once a day. If no progress is observed after 15-20 days, the dose should be increased to 20-60 mg per day until a positive effect occurs. Then the dosage is gradually reduced. At the same time, it is recommended to take 0.1 g of B-complex vitamins once a day. During the course, it is necessary to regularly check the level of cyanocobalamin. It is recommended to include oat bran in your diet, which contains water-soluble fiber. Wheat bran is not suitable in this case, since its fiber is insoluble.
• Epilepsy. After an attack of epilepsy, the level of vitamin B 9 in the brain decreases. Anticonvulsants also reduce its concentration in blood plasma. As a result, attacks become more frequent. Typically, for epilepsy, 5 mg is prescribed once a day. However, the drug should be taken only after consulting a doctor.

Overdose

Overdose occurs very rarely. To do this, the body must receive hundreds of times more than the required amount of folic acid (20-30 mg). If the required amount of the drug is slightly exceeded, the excess folic acid is eliminated without causing any harm to the body. However, like any medicine, vitamin B 9 preparations can cause allergies.

A serious disadvantage of long-term use of vitamin B 9 is that it hides the symptoms of megaloblastic anemia, but does not stop the neurological disorders characteristic of this disease. Therefore, with prolonged use of vitamin B 9 preparations, hidden progression of severe neurological disorders caused by a lack of cyanocobalamin is possible. Just 10 years ago it was generally accepted that there was no overdose of this micronutrient. However, studies are now known that indicate that pregnant women who have been taking vitamin B9 preparations in high dosages for a long time give birth to children with weak immunity and a tendency to bronchial asthma and colds.

Hypervitaminosis

Increased doses of vitamin B 9 can cause dyspepsia or increased excitability in a child. Long-term use of the vitamin in high dosages is not recommended, as this can lead to a drop in cyanocobalamin levels in the blood.

Side effects

Depending on individual tolerance, folic acid preparations can cause allergic manifestations, bronchospasm, skin redness, hyperthermia, and rash.

Vitamin B 9 has no toxic effect on the human body. Clinical studies have been conducted on the long-term use of vitamin B 9 at a dosage of 15 mg per day (40 times higher than the body's daily requirement). According to the research results, the drug did not have any toxic effect. However, long-term use (more than 90 days) of vitamin B 9 in an increased dosage can lead to a drop in the level of cyanocobalamin in the blood, which can cause anemia. Increased doses of the vitamin can provoke digestive tract disorders, increase excitability, and cause an imbalance in kidney function.

Some drugs reduce the content of vitamin B 9 in the blood plasma. Among them:

• acetylsalicylic acid (in increased dosage);
• nitrofurans (taken for urinary tract infections);
• combined oral contraceptives;

Folic acid and men's health

Vitamin B 9 is necessary for both women and men. With chronic vitamin deficiency, men can develop a number of pathologies, including infertility and megaloblastic anemia. Taking folic acid in a therapeutic dosage eliminates such complications.

The main indicator of men's health is considered to be the condition of sperm. Spermatozoa are the same cells; their synthesis requires protein and nucleic acids. In the absence of vitamin B 9, sperm synthesis is impaired. With a lack of vitamin, the concentration of sperm decreases and their condition worsens: sperm may have an unnatural shape or lack a tail, which reduces their motility. But the worst thing is that such sperm may have the wrong number of chromosomes, and this is the main factor in hereditary diseases in children (for example, Down syndrome).

Vitamin B 9 and the hormone testosterone determine the normal development of sperm. Folic acid is extremely important for men during puberty, since it is one of the factors in the development of secondary sexual characteristics (deepening of the voice, facial and body hair, intensive growth).

Folic acid in the treatment and prevention of cancer

Vitamin B 9 prevents cancer. But if the disease has already begun, then the drug cannot be used, since folic acid will promote the division of cancer cells. In such situations, medications are used that inhibit the activity of vitamin B9, for example methotrexate. This inhibits tumor growth. In order to prevent metabolic disorders, a drug is prescribed that replaces vitamin B 9 - folinic acid. Given the higher risk of cancer in older people, they are not recommended to take folic acid supplements without a doctor's recommendation.

Leucovorin is a drug based on folinic acid, successfully used in chemotherapy for cancer. It reduces the severity of intoxication after the use of cytostatic drugs (vomiting, diarrhea, hyperthermia, damage to bone marrow tissue).

Recent studies by scientists in the USA have proven the relationship between taking vitamin B9 supplements and the progression of colon tumors.

Since 1980, Harvard has conducted a survey every 2 years in which approximately 90,000 women with children participated. The questions concerned nutrition and, in particular, taking vitamin complexes. In 1994, the information collected was scrutinized for the incidence of colon cancer, the third most common cancer among women in the United States. Survey data showed that women who took sufficient amounts of vitamin B 9 - more than 0.4 g mg per day - were least likely to suffer from this disease.

Scientists have concluded: 75% of cases of colon tumors in women can be avoided if preventive doses of vitamin B9 are taken throughout life.

The research allowed us to draw another important conclusion. Colon tumors were least common in women who had regularly consumed vitamin complexes over the past 10-15 years.

Folic acid and prevention of atherosclerosis

Recently, doctors are increasingly inclined to believe that folic acid is effective in preventing atherosclerosis, the main factor in diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Today, a new theory of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is popular in Western countries. According to this theory, the main reason for the progression of atherosclerosis is a high level in the blood of not well-known cholesterol, but of another bioactive factor - homocysteine.

Homocysteine ​​is an endogenous amino acid. Under the influence of enzymes in the body, it is transformed into the essential fatty amino acid methionine, which is involved in the production of protein. If the body is deficient in the corresponding enzymes, homocysteine ​​accumulates in the blood and destroys the walls of blood vessels, causing inflammation. Cholesterol is involved in this process at later stages. Proponents of the new theory argue that without homocysteine, even with elevated levels of cholesterol in the blood, atherosclerosis does not progress.

What is the role of folic acid in this regard? The fact is that it is precisely this that is necessary for the synthesis in the body of enzymes that transform homocysteine ​​into methionine. Vitamin B9 deficiency causes a deficiency of the corresponding enzyme. As a result, excess homocysteine ​​accumulates in the blood, which leads to the progression of atherosclerosis, and then to its complications - ischemia of the heart muscle, heart attack, stroke.

Before use, you should consult a specialist.

Folic acid is vitamin B9, necessary for the renewal processes of all types of cells that are part of the body. Vitamin B9 is something without which the synthesis of purines necessary for the assembly of DNA - matrices on which the hereditary material of each cell is recorded - is impossible.

Vitamin B9 or folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin that comes from leafy greens and vegetables. Common names for vitamin B9 are bc, growth vitamin, folic acid.

Derivatives of folic acid - polyglutamates, diglutamates, also participate in metabolism; they are combined under the general name “folates”. The availability of folate for absorption depends on the form of the compound in which the substance enters the body.

In the body, the active form is tetrahydrofolic acid. The function of the compound is to transfer carbohydrate fragments necessary for the synthesis of purine bases, which are used to build DNA.

Spreading

Sources of folic acid are most abundant in plant foods. When consuming plant foods, the compound is supplied in sufficient quantities, and in a healthy person a deficiency occurs extremely rarely.

A lack of folate can occur in a young healthy person during periods of rapid growth of the body; the need for them increases 6 times during pregnancy. The reader can find out about it on a separate page of the site.

To reduce the risk of having a child with defects of the nervous system, folates are included in all vitamin and mineral complexes for pregnant women.

To give birth to a healthy baby, vitamins with folic acid begin to be taken at the stage of pregnancy planning. The need for vitamin B9 when planning pregnancy is described on the website in the article.

To calculate how much folate you need, you use a “folate equivalent,” or a ratio that varies for different types of foods. Thus, the folate equivalent of plant foods is 0.6, which means that only 0.6 mg of 1 mg of folate is absorbed.

The dietary folate equivalent from synthetic vitamin preparations is lower than from leafy greens, which contain large quantities of vitamin B9, and is 0.5.

Functions of folate in the body

The need for folic acid increases during all processes that are accompanied by active cell division and the formation of organs and tissues. This explains why deficiency occurs in young active people and middle-aged people. In this case, deficiency can occur even with sufficient intake of vitamin B9 from food.

With a lack of B9, DNA synthesis is disrupted and the cell does not enter the division stage. This phenomenon is observed in the bone marrow in megaloblastic anemia, a disease in which the maturation of red blood cells is impaired, and overgrown megaloblasts are found in the blood.

Megaloblasts are an immature initial form that is unable to perform the functions of red blood cells. Similar transformations occur with leukocytes, cells of the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines, causing gastritis, enteritis, and conjunctivitis.

With a lack of vitamin B9 in the body, the content of homocysteine ​​increases, which destroys the endothelium of blood vessels and causes homocysteinemia. One of the products of homocysteine ​​destruction is the amino acid methionine, which is necessary for the formation of serotonin and norepinephrine.

For the production of serotonin and norepinephrine, as the main neurotransmitters of the brain, the synthesis of purines, and the maturation of red blood cells, activation of vitamin B9 in the body is required, which requires cobalamin ().

Reasons for the shortage

Cooking at high temperatures reduces the content of vitamin B9 in foods by 70-90%, and a person does not receive the required amount from food.

The reasons for a lack of vitamin B 9 can be:

• malabsorption in the small intestine;
• Crohn's disease;
• alcoholism;
• taking barbiturates, anticonvulsants, oral contraceptives, metatrexate;
• high need during pregnancy, hemodialysis.

Symptoms of deficiency

Lack of folic acid negatively affects puberty in adolescents, leads to early menopause in women, abnormal sperm count, infertility in men, and is accompanied by:

• anemia;
• early gray hair;
• irritability;
• loss of strength;
• depression;
• the appearance of phobias, feelings of fear.

Hypervitaminosis B9

Excessive amounts of folate negatively affect the cellular immune system, reducing the activity of NK cells - natural killer cells.

It is difficult to cause an excess by eating foods rich in folates, since they are excreted by the kidneys in the urine. But when consuming overdoses of folic acid in tablets, it can lead to the appearance of an excess of this compound in the blood.

The danger of this phenomenon is that folates stimulate cell division, which is dangerous in case of cancer or a high risk of cancer.

In connection with the latest data, WHO has revised the required daily intake of folic acid downward, and now recommends that adult non-pregnant women take 170 mcg of folic acid per day, and during pregnancy - up to 470 mcg.

Vitamin B9, necessary for the body to create new cells and maintain their health, especially in the early stages of prenatal development and in the first years of life.

Folic acid takes part in metabolism, in the production of DNA, plays an important role in the synthesis of immune blood cells, and normalizes the function of the digestive tract.

Instructions for use:

What is folic acid for?

Folic acid is necessary for normal blood cell formation, including the processes of megaloblast maturation and normoblast formation. Lack of folic acid inhibits the transition from the megaloblastic phase of hematopoiesis to the normoblastic phase. Together with vitamin B12, it stimulates erythropoiesis, participates in the synthesis of amino acids, nucleic acids, purines and pyrimidines, and in choline metabolism.

For women

Getting enough folic acid is essential for women of childbearing age. In addition, vitamin B9 deficiency is associated with delayed puberty in girls and early menopause in women.

Uses of vitamin B:

• improves fertility;
• normalizes the menstrual cycle;
• prevents osteoporosis;
• smoothes the symptoms of menopause;
• increases intellectual abilities;
• improves the chances of getting pregnant.

In addition, folic acid indispensable for the health and beauty of hair, skin and nails: its deficiency causes slower hair growth and hair loss, nails become brittle, and acne appears on the skin. Regular use of vitamin B9 for women can improve their appearance.

For men

Folic acid is also important for men's health. Studies have shown that men who eat foods rich in folic acid have significantly lower levels of “bad” sperm (by about 20-30%). Consequently, they have much higher chances of successfully conceiving healthy children.

For this reason, folic acid is included in vitamin complexes for the prevention and treatment of male infertility. Their use significantly improves hormonal levels and blood circulation, as well as increases the quantity and quality of sperm. The optimal dosage of folic acid for men is 700-1100 mcg per day.

During pregnancy

Folic acid is essential for pregnant women as it plays an important role in the development of the fetal neural tube. With normal levels of vitamin B9 the likelihood of developmental defects in the fetus is reduced. In addition, it is necessary for the normal growth and development of the placenta. Folic acid active participates in the creation of baby cells, and is also spent on replacing the constantly renewed cells of the mother’s body.

If folic acid is supplied in insufficient quantities during pregnancy, the following defects may occur in the fetus:

• cerebral hernia;
• absence of a brain;
• hydrocephalus;
• spina bifida.

Also, the possibility of cleft upper lip and cleft palate, development of heart defects and vascular system cannot be excluded.

How much folic acid a pregnant woman needs should be determined by her doctor. The optimal daily dosage for pregnant women who do not have signs of vitamin B9 deficiency is 400 mcg. However, according to the instructions, the dose can vary between 100-800 mcg/day.

Since folic acid deficiency is considered the most dangerous in early pregnancy, doctors advise starting to take the drug within 3 months before conception.

It is equally important to continue taking the drug during lactation, since a nursing woman’s need for vitamin B9 is often even higher than before pregnancy and throughout the entire period of bearing a child.

What foods contain folic acid?

For the prevention of hypovitaminosis B9 is most preferable balanced diet.

Products rich in instructions for use: folic acid:

• green vegetables: lettuce, spinach, broccoli;
• tomatoes;
• carrot;
• beef and lamb liver;
• Brewer's yeast;
• legumes: soy;
• beet;
• eggs;
• nuts;
• cereals.

Water-soluble vitamin B9 is quickly used and is easily excreted from the body. When consuming 1 microgram of naturally occurring folate in food, this amount is equivalent to 0.6 micrograms of folate obtained from taking a synthetic vitamin supplement. This is due to the low absorption of vitamin B9 of natural origin.

Pharmacological properties

Folic acid, prescribed as a medicine, is well and completely absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, mainly in the upper parts of the duodenum (even in the presence of malabsorption syndrome due to tropical sprue, while dietary folates are poorly absorbed in malabsorption syndrome) .

Intensively binds to plasma proteins. Penetrates through the blood-brain barrier, the placenta and into breast milk. TCmax - 30-60 min. Deposited and metabolized in the liver to form tetrahydrofolic acid (in the presence of ascorbic acid under the action of dihydrofolate reductase).

Excreted by the kidneys mainly in the form of metabolites; if the dose taken significantly exceeds the daily requirement for folic acid, it is excreted unchanged. Eliminated by hemodialysis.

Indications for use of folic acid

Hypo- and vitamin deficiency B9:

• unbalanced diet;
• parenteral nutrition;
• malnutrition;
• megaloblastic anemia;
• macrocytic anemia;
• glossitis;
• alcoholism;
• hemolytic anemia;
• intermittent fever;
• gastrectomy;
• hemodialysis for a long period of time;
• prolonged stress;
• pregnancy;
• lactation period.

Newborns:

• with low body weight;
• those who are breastfed;
• receiving unbalanced formula or goat milk.

Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and hepatobiliary zone:

• tropical sprue;
• gluten enteropathy;
• persistent diarrhea;
• malabsorption syndrome;
• liver failure;
• alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

Simultaneous use:

• analgesics for a long period of time;
• anticonvulsants;
• erythropoietin;
• estrogens;
• sulfasalazine.

Directions for use and doses

For therapeutic purposes (depending on the severity of vitamin deficiency):

• adults - up to 5 mg/day for 20-30 days;
• for children - in smaller doses.

For prevention (based on daily needs):

• adults are prescribed 150-200 mcg/day;
• children under 3 years old – 25-50 mcg/day;
• children 4-6 years old - 75 mcg/day;
• children 7-10 years old - 100 mcg/day;
• during pregnancy - 400 mcg/day;
• during lactation - 300 mcg/day.

Features of application

Folic acid is not used to treat B12-deficiency (pernicious), normocytic and aplastic anemia, as well as anemia refractory to therapy. In pernicious (B12-deficiency) anemia, folic acid, improving hematological parameters, masks neurological complications. Until pernicious anemia is excluded, the administration of folic acid in doses exceeding 0.4 mg/day is not recommended (with the exception of pregnancy and lactation).

It should be kept in mind that hemodialysis patients require increased amounts of folic acid.

During treatment, antacids should be used 2 hours after taking folic acid, cholestyramine - 4-6 hours before or 1 hour after taking folic acid.

It should be borne in mind that antibiotics can distort (provide deliberately underestimated indicators) the results of microbiological assessment of the concentration of folic acid in plasma and erythrocytes.

When using large doses of folic acid, as well as therapy for a long period, a decrease in the concentration of vitamin B12 is possible.

Side effects

Allergic reactions:

Skin rash; skin itching; bronchospasm; erythema; hyperthermia.

Interaction with other drugs

Reduces the effect of phenytoin (requires increasing its dose).

Analgesics (long-term therapy), anticonvulsants (including phenytoin and carbamazepine), estrogens, and oral contraceptives increase the need for folic acid.

Antacids (including Ca2+, Al3+ and Mg2+ preparations), cholestyramine, sulfonamines (including sulfasalazine) reduce the absorption of folic acid.

In order to prevent the development of megaloblastic anemia in patients taking cytostatics (methotrexate) or antiepileptic drugs, concomitant administration of folic acid is recommended.

Pyrimethamine, triamterene, trimethoprim inhibit dihydrofolate reductase and reduce the effect of folic acid (patients using these drugs should be prescribed calcium folinate instead).

There is no clear information regarding Zn2+ preparations: some studies show that folates inhibit the absorption of Zn2+, while others refute this data.

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity, pernicious anemia.

Overdose

Ingestion of folic acid in excess of 5 mg per day can cause dysfunction of the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract. Children experience increased excitability and digestive disorders, and adults may experience sleep disturbances.

It is a biologically inactive substance. For medical purposes, the substance is obtained artificially. Vitamin B9 is made in the form of ampoules, powders or tablets. Folic acid is also found in foods: spinach, beans, tomatoes, beets, eggs, meat, and animal liver.

Pharmacological properties

The substance is involved in metabolism, and also plays a major role in the synthesis of immune cells, improves digestion. This drug is also called the motherhood vitamin, because folic acid is the most important vitamin during pregnancy, which forms the fetus, stimulates cell growth and is necessary for the development of the placenta. A lack of this substance in the initial stages of pregnancy can threaten the fetus with a defect in the nervous system.

Folic acid with vitamins B12 and B6 regulates a person’s mental state and is involved in the synthesis of the hormones serotonin and adrenaline, which are important for the nervous system. The substance is necessary for the replication of amino acids, nucleic acids, purines, pyrimidines, and takes part in choline metabolism. That is why, for a complex effect, doctors recommend taking folic acid along with vitamins B12 and B6.

Folic acid (+ vitamin B12 and B6) “Evalar” combines substances in the right proportions for best absorption in the body. Optimal dosage, excellent quality, affordable price - these are the positive qualities that distinguish the drug. Folic acid (+ vitamin B12 and B6) is taken as an active biological additive to food. Patient reviews of the drug from the company "Evalar" are positive.

Vitamin B9 prescribed as a medicine (in combination with other supplements) is well absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract, interacts intensively with plasma proteins, and penetrates the blood-brain semipermeable barrier into the placenta and breast milk. The folic acid complex is excreted by the kidneys in the form of metabolites. Overdose is a rare occurrence.

Indications for use

For those who have insufficient levels of vitamin B9 in the body, folic acid (vitamin B12 and B6) is indicated. Instructions for use include the following points:

• The dietary supplement must be taken with meals;
• adults need to take one tablet per day;
• The duration of the course is a month and a half.

Folic acid (vitamins B6, B12, C, E, B9) is a powerful compound that supports the cardiovascular system. The supplement is recommended for use for various types of heart and vascular diseases, atherosclerosis, and also to reduce the risk of heart attacks.

Other indications for the use of folic acid as part of maintenance therapy are:

• intestinal tuberculosis;
• chronic gastroenteritis;
• anemia and leukopenia;
• pregnancy (the vitamin is indicated to prevent neural tube disorders in the fetus);
• insufficient amount of acid in the body (due to poor nutrition, vegetarianism, pregnancy);
• tropical diarrhea.

Folic acid with vitamins B12 and B6 promotes the formation of enzymes that prevent the development of benign and malignant tumors.

The most common combination and good compatibility of substances are vitamins K, B6, B12, folic acid, zinc. Vitamin B9 is a practically safe drug, but doctors do not recommend taking the supplement for a long time, as it reduces the concentration of vitamin B12 in the body.

Folic acid for women: dosage regimen

Seven out of ten women face vitamin B6 deficiency. Folic acid with vitamins B12 and B6 is especially necessary for expectant mothers and women just planning pregnancy. A lack of vitamin in the mother's body increases the risk of having a baby with pathologies or mental insufficiency, which can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, or placental abruption.

With a lack of B9, pregnant women experience weakness, dizziness, general health worsens, hair begins to fall out, and their appearance leaves much to be desired. Vomiting or diarrhea and anemia may occur.

Doctors recommend starting to take vitamins B6, B12 with folic acid daily in a dosage of 0.4 to 0.8 mg three months before the planned conception of a child and during pregnancy. If this is not the first pregnancy and developmental pathologies are detected in the first baby, it is necessary to increase the dosage to 4 mg.

This drug is also necessary for women after fifty years of age, as the biological supplement improves well-being during menopause. Vitamin B6 reduces unpleasant symptoms by having an estrogen-like effect. With regular use, the drug improves mental state, normalizes sleep, reduces sweating, regulates the ebb and flow of tides, normalizes blood pressure, and eliminates rapid heartbeat.

Vitamin B9 also protects against macular degeneration - this is damage to the retina of the eye and, as a result, a rapid and severe deterioration in visual acuity.

Folic acid for men: dosage

Folic acid in a man's body is responsible for productivity and sperm count, and an insufficient amount of vitamin B9 can even lead to infertility. In addition, a lack of folic acid can subsequently have a negative impact on the child, causing the development of Down syndrome, epilepsy or schizophrenia. For men, as for women, it is important to start taking a dietary supplement three months before planned conception.

To replenish the lack of folic acid in the body, you should consume fresh vegetables, fish, meat, cottage cheese, and cheese in sufficient quantities. As a rule, doctors additionally prescribe 1 tablet (1 ml) of vitamin per day, and as part of the treatment of various diseases, the dosage is increased to 2-5 tablets per day.

Folic acid for children: instructions

From development in the womb to three years of age, during maturation, formation and growth, the child especially needs vitamin B9. But if the mother adheres to a balanced and healthy diet, the baby under one year old does not need additional vitamin intake. Folic acid with vitamins B12 and B6 is necessary for teenagers for normal growth and good memory.

Depending on the age of the child, different dosages are prescribed:

• up to 6 months - 25 mcg;
• from one to 3 years - 50 mcg;
• from 14 years old - 200 mcg.

One tablet contains 1000 mcg of the substance, so children need to dilute one tablet in water, and then use a measuring syringe to measure the required dosage.

Use for weight loss and cosmetic purposes

Scottish scientists have confirmed that folic acid is a necessary element for maintaining women's health and beauty. The vitamin is the main participant in the formation of leukocytes, red blood cells, new skin and hair cells. Vitamin B9 ensures a healthy complexion, which is important for women.

For cosmetic purposes, vitamin B9 is used to heal and strengthen hair, prevent baldness, improve and strengthen nails, and also as a regenerating and soothing agent. Liquid acid is used for hair in combination with masks, conditioners and shampoos. As part of a vitamin complex or in products, vitamin B9 is used to speed up metabolism in the body and combat excess weight.

Recipes for hair masks with vitamin B9:

1. Burdock oil, rub half a teaspoon of vitamin B9 into your hair, wrap your head in a towel and leave for half an hour. Rinse the product off your hair with shampoo containing a drop of folic acid.
2. Mask for dry hair. Combine avocado pulp (contains B9) with olive oil, add two drops of lemon juice. Keep the mask on for about half an hour. Rinse off with warm water and shampoo.

Folic acid breaks down fats in the human body. So a successful weight loss program is taking vitamins, proper and balanced nutrition, and moderate physical activity.

Side effects and overdose

The possibility of overdosing on folic acid is very low. Excess acid is excreted from the body through urine. But despite the harmlessness of the drug, there are side effects and a slight likelihood of overdose.

Doctors advise not to set the dosage yourself, but to drink as directed.

Possible side effects include:

• rash, itchy skin, asthma attack, allergic reactions;
• insufficient amount of vitamin B12;
• development of anemia;
• thickening of the epithelial layer in the kidneys.

An overdose of vitamin B9 causes insomnia, diarrhea, cramps, acute abdominal pain, vomiting, and constipation. If you identify the above symptoms, you should consult a doctor and only adjust your vitamin intake under his supervision. Additional therapy may be required.

Interaction with other drugs

Vitamin B9 reduces the effectiveness of phenytoin. Analgesics, anticonvulsants, estrogens and contraceptives increase the body's need for vitamin B9. Antacids, Cholestyramine, and sulfonamides reduce the absorption of folic acid. Triamterene, Pyrimethamine, Trimethoprim inhibit dihydrofolate reductase and reduce the effect of folic acid. When prescribing vitamin B9, people who use these drugs are additionally prescribed calcium folinate.

Contraindications for taking the supplement

It is not recommended to use vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid in case of hypersensitivity, serious allergic reaction to B vitamins and bronchial asthma. Folic acid activates cancer cells. The use of the vitamin is contraindicated in case of renal failure and pyelonephritis. It is undesirable to take acid if you have hemochromatosis - this is a hereditary disease that manifests itself in impaired iron metabolism.

Tablets must be stored at a temperature not exceeding +25, in a dark and dry place. The shelf life is 36 months.