Mar 23, 2009 -
Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin found naturally in many foods. If you've heard of folic acid, it's the synthetic version of it, found in dietary supplements and fortified foods. Not only is folate essential for expecting mothers, but it's necessary for all people since it's needed to make DNA and RNA, the building blocks of the cells in our bodies.
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Oct 13, 2008 -
If the urge to become a mom is in your not-too-distant future, here are some healthy changes you should make before you even think about becoming pregnant.
Get at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily. This B vitamin helps prevent birth defects such as spina bifida.
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Mar 25, 2008 -
We've told you about the benefits of folic acid for expectant mothers, but now a new study reports that it may also have an effect on the opposite sex. It said:
Researchers have found an association between a vitamin and levels of chromosomal abnormalities in men's sperm. Men who consumed high levels of folate (a water-soluble B vitamin that occurs naturally in food) and folic acid (the synthetic form of the vitamin) tended to have lower levels of abnormal sperm where a chromosome had been lost or gained (known as aneuploidy).
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Mar 20, 2008 -
While there has been a lot of focus on how women of childbearing age should make sure they are getting enough folic acid, there has been little talk about men and folate. Until now.
New research has found that men who are thinking about becoming fathers should also be sure they're getting enough folic acid, since the folates that prevent birth defects when consumed by women may also help keep men's sperm normal.
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Mar 03, 2008 -
Did you know that it is recommended for women planning to get pregnant to take folic acid for a full year prior to conception? If you didn't know that recommendation, you are not alone. A recent survey completed by the March of Dimes found that the majority of women ages 18 to 24 had no idea about folic acid helping prevent birth defects.
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Feb 02, 2008 -
My mother, a registered nurse who worked on a spina bifida study for years, encouraged me to take prenatal vitamins with an additional folic acid supplement. Folic acid has long been credited with helping to prevent birth defects, including spina bifida. Being my mother and a health professional, I took her advice and followed her direction.
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Jan 15, 2008 -
Many women are aware that they should take folic acid, but many aren't. Who should and who shouldn't? And how much?
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Oct 28, 2007 -
So I gave you a quiz about your RDI of the basic vitamins and minerals. I didn't mention anything about B vitamins though.
When it comes to B vitamins, there are so many that it can be confusing to know what is what.
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Jul 02, 2007 -
Here's another friendly reminded to get make sure you're getting enough folic acid.
Researchers at the University of York and Hull York Medical School have confirmed that that while low folate does not cause depression, the two are linked.
The reason behind it is that folate is linked to the production of some of the "feel good" chemicals in the brain, such as serotonin, and some people with depression commonly have a gene that processes folate less efficiently.
- 5 Comments
May 14, 2007 -
I'm sure you've heard that pregnant women should take folic acid (vitamin B9) to prevent birth defects, but did you know that you should start taking it a month before you conceive?
Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate and it can reduce certain birth defects of the brain and spinal cord by more than 70 percent. These birth defects are called neural tube defects (NTDs).
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