Other names for this vitamin: folate, folacin, pteroylglutamic acid, vitamin Bc, vitamin M.<br /><br />Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin and is produced in small quantities by intestinal flora.<br /><br />Vitamin B9 is a precursor of tetrahydrofolic acid, which participates as a coenzyme in the metabolism of amino acids and nucleic acids. Tetrahydrofolate deficiency causes anemia.<br /><br />This substance is involved in the synthesis of pyrimidines and purines necessary for the production of DNA/RNA.<br /><br />Folic acid is used in the production of red blood cells and amino acids such as serine and glycine.<br /><br />Together with vitamins B12, B6 and C, folic acid is responsible for the rapid cell division of some cells and is also important for the biosynthesis of hemoglobin.<br /><br />This chemical stimulates appetite and the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.<br /><br />It has a protective effect against cervical dysplasia, which is a precancerous condition of the uterus in women.<br /><br />Improves the functioning of the nervous system in the embryonic stages.<br /><br />Vitamin B9 is involved in the biosynthesis of norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine, important neurotransmitters that support the normal functioning of the nervous system.<br /><br />Folic acid is important in the metabolism of homocysteine; high concentrations of this substance increase the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, as well as osteoporosis.<br /><br />Lack of folic acid (vitamin B9) can cause neural tube disorders such as spina bifida, miscarriage, pernicious anemia and megaloblastic anemia.<br /><br />When cooking food, some of vitamin B9 is lost. Storing fresh vegetables for more than 3 days reduces the amount of this substance by 50%, but boiling for 2 minutes even reduces it by 90%.<br /><br />Oxygen from the air, acids, light, heat, washing and grinding negatively affect the folic acid content of foods.<br /><br />Most often, vitamin B9 hypovitaminosis is observed in older people, in people with malabsorption, in people with an unbalanced diet and in women taking oral contraceptives.<br /><br />40% of our planet's population suffers from folic acid deficiency.<br /><br />When treating epilepsy, medications such as phenobarbital and phenytoin impair the absorption of vitamin B9.<br /><br />With gluten intolerance, vitamin B9 deficiency is characterized by the following symptoms: insomnia, irritability, weakness, and confusion.<br /><br />Some drugs used in cancer treatment can cause folic acid deficiency, and surgical resections can cause vitamin B9 and B12 deficiency.<br /><br />The recommended daily intake of folic acid is 400 mcg/day, and for pregnant women even 800 mcg/day.<br /><br />Vitamin B9 easily migrates into mother's milk, so babies are provided with this substance.
