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Folic Acid and the Older Adult
Definition
Food Sources
Folic acid is a type of B vitamin. It is watersoluble. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in
water. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave
the body through the urine. That means you
need a continuous supply of the vitamin in
your diet.
Folate occurs naturally in the following foods:
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Alternative Names
Vitamin B9; Folate in diet; Diet - folic acid;
Diet - folate; Pteroylglutamic acid
Beans and legumes
Citrus fruits and juices
Wheat bran and other whole grains
Dark green leafy vegetables
Poultry, pork, shellfish, liver
(Folic acid is the man-made form of folate
found in supplements.)
Function
Folic acid works along with vitamin B12 and
vitamin C to help the body break down, use,
and create new proteins. The vitamin helps
form red blood cells and helps produce DNA,
the building block of the human body, which
carries genetic information. Folic acid also
helps tissues grow and cells work.
Recommendations
The best way to get the daily requirement of
essential vitamins is to eat a balanced diet
that contains a variety of foods from the food
guide pyramid. Most people in the United
States have an adequate dietary intake of folic
acid because it is plentiful in the food supply.
Recommended Daily Intake:
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Males age 14 and older: 400 mcg/day
Females age 50 and over: 400 mcg/day
Side Effects
What other drugs will affect folic acid?
Folic acid deficiency may cause poor growth,
gray hair, swollen tongue (glossitis), mouth
ulcers, peptic ulcer, and diarrhea. It may also
lead to certain types of anemias.
The dosages of other medications you take
may need to be changed while you are taking
folic acid.Tell your doctor about all other
medications you use, especially:
Too much folic acid usually doesn't cause
harm, because the vitamin is regularly
removed from the body through urine. Folic
acid supplementation may mask the harmful
effects of vitamin B12 deficiency however.
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What else should I know about folic acid?
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Before you take folic acid, tell your doctor if
you have kidney disease (or if you are on
dialysis), an infection, if you are an alcoholic,
or if you have any type of anemia that has not
been diagnosed by a doctor and confirmed
with laboratory testing.
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phenytoin (Dilantin);
methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall);
nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Macrobid);
pyrimethamine (Daraprim);
tetracycline (Ala-Tet, Brodspec,
Sumycin);
a barbiturate such as butabarbital
(Butisol), secobarbital (Seconal),
pentobarbital (Nembutal), or
phenobarbital (Solfoton); or
seizure medication such as phenytoin
(Dilantin) or primidone (Mysoline).
This list is not complete and there may be
other drugs that can interact with folic acid.
Folic acid is sometimes used in combination
Tell your doctor about all your prescription
with other medications to treat pernicious
and over-the-counter medications, vitamins,
anemia. However, folic acid will not treat
minerals, herbal products, and drugs
Vitamin B12 deficiency and will not prevent
prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new
possible damage to the spinal cord. Take all of medication without telling your doctor.
your medications as directed.
References
What should I discuss with my healthcare
provider before taking folic acid?
If you have any of these other conditions, you
may need a dose adjustment or special tests to
safely use this medication:
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kidney disease (or if you are on
dialysis);
hemolytic anemia;
pernicious anemia;
anemia that has not been diagnosed by a
doctor and confirmed with laboratory
testing;
an infection; or
if you are an alcoholic.
This document was made using materials adapted from
https://online.epocrates.com/ and http://www.mdconsult.com and is NOT an
original work.
Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for
Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, PantothenicAcid,
Biotin, and Choline. National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1998.
Hamrick I, Counts SH. Vitamin and mineral supplements. Wellness and
Prevention. December 2008:35(4);729-747.
Rakel D, ed. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;
2007.
Mason, MB. Vitamins, trace minerals, and other micronutrients. In: Goldman L,
Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier;
2007: chap 237.
Review Date: 11/6/2009
Reviewed By: A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, Greg Juhn,
MTPW, David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by Linda Vorvick, MD, Family
Physician, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX
Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington
School of Medicine (3/7/2009).
Copyright © Nidus Information Services 2010
A.D.A.M., Inc.