Vitamin B9 Healing Properties, Deficiency Symptoms

Vitamin B9 or Folic Acid Deficiency symptoms

Deficiency of folic acid causes anaemia which often occurs in pregnant women and children. Serious skin disorders, loss of hair, impaired circulation, a greyishbrown skin pigmentation, fatigue, and mental depression can result from a deficiency of this vitamin. Reproductive disorders such as spontaneous abortions and difficult labour, and a high infant death rate can also be caused by folic acid deficiency. Vitamin B9 deficiency may also lead to loss of libido in males. According to studies, two-thirds of geriatric patients were found to be deficient in folic acid, while one-third of psychiatric patients were also deficient in this vitamin. Lack of folic acid can also lead to dementia.

Almost all the anti-convulsant drugs used in the treatment of epilepsy reduce serum folate concentrations. In addition to anticonvulsants, other drugs such as oral contraceptives, pyrimethamine (an antimalarial) co-trimoxazole(contains a sulphur compound), and ethanol (alcohol) may impair folate metabolism.

Vitamin B9 healing properties

Large. doses of folic acid have been found beneficial in the treatment of a few diseases which are rare and often involve mental retardation. Some of these diseases were detected initially by the presence of megaloblastic anaemia, a state suggestive of defective folic acid metabolism.

Precautions

Folic acid normally has no adverse effects. However, when it is used to treat megaloblastic anaemia (secondary to the use of anticonvulsant drugs), the epilepsy may be aggravated. If prescribed in the treatment of gout, it may interfere with drugs being prescribed for epilepsy, and hide the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency. Hence folic acid therapy in gout too should only be taken under medical supervision.

What are the Sources of Vitamin B9?

What is Vitamin B9 or Folic Acid?

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