Vitamin B₉ (Folic Acid, Folate)

Category:

• Vitamin

Description:

• Dietary supplement; water-soluble vitamin

Indications:

• Folic acid deficiency

  • necessary for proper protein and DNA synthesis, cellular growth and vitamin B₁₂ function

Contraindications:

• Treatment of pernious anemia in patients where vitamin B₁₂ is deficient.

Precautions:

• Pregnancy category A

• Folic acid deficiency is more pronounced in pregnant women.  Folate-deficient mothers are more prone to complications and fetal abnormalities, including:

  • Low birth weight

  • Placental abruption

  • Placenta previa

  • Abortions

  • Premature delivery

• It is recommended that pregnant women take 0.4mg of folic acid daily during pregnancy.

• Decreased vitamin B₁₂ levels may occur in patients receiving long-term folic acid therapy.

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

• Relatively non-toxic in therapeutic doses

• Rare instances of allergic responses have occurred.

• Patients receiving over 15mg per day may experience:

• Altered sleep patterns, difficulty concentration, irritability, impaired judgement

• Anorexia, nausea, abdominal distention, flatulence, bitter or bad taste

Dosage:

• Dietary sources: liver, lean beef, veal, yeast, shole grains, leafy vegetables and fresh fruit

• Administered orally (tablets) and injection

• Dietary supplementation (RDA: recommended daily allowance):

  • Adult males: 200mcg per day

  • Adults females: 180mcg per day

• Usual therapeutic dosage: 1mg per day

• Infants: 0.1mg per day

• Children (<4 years): up to 0.3mg per day

• Adults and children (>4 years): 0.4mg per day

• Pregnant and lactating women: 0.8mg per day

• Parenteral: IV, IM or SQ is disease is severe or patient is unable to take orally