When to iron and folic acid?

Folic acid, sometimes called folate, is vitamin B9. Iron is a mineral (or trace element) that is essential in the process of creating red blood cells in the body.

Vitamins and minerals are two types of daily nutrients that our body needs to be provided (mainly from food) but in very small amounts but must be enough for the body to function normally.

Folic acid: Included in the 13 vitamins that need to be supplied daily (including 4 oil-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K, vitamin C and 8 water-soluble B group vitamins, folic acid belonging to the B-soluble group).

Folic acid is essential for normal red blood cell formation and has an effect on DNA and RNA synthesis, which is closely related to cell division. Lack of folic acid will lead to megaloblastic anemia. If pregnant women do not get enough folic acid, it will lead to a defect in the formation of the fetal spinal cord, the fetus is at risk of spina bifida (spina bifida).

Recently, many studies have demonstrated that increased blood levels of homoncysteine ​​can cause many cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis, arterial thrombosis, ischemic heart disease . and folic acid supplementation. Combined with a number of other B vitamins can reduce homocysteine ​​in the blood, help prevent cardiovascular diseases just mentioned.

Iron: In the minerals provided daily, iron plays a very important role because this is an essential element to create hemoglobin which is the substance that makes the red color of red blood cells, responsible for transporting oxygen (oxygen). and CO2 (CO2) during respiration. If iron is not provided enough, it leads to iron deficiency anemia. It should be noted that many forms of anemia and iron deficiency anemia are the most common form of anemia (there is also an anemia form of folic acid deficiency, anemia of vitamin B12 deficiency).

To avoid vitamin and mineral deficiency Folic acid is abundant in broccoli (Photo: Dantri) in general, should eat well. To avoid folic acid and iron deficiency, eat red meats (pork, beef), liver, green vegetables, legumes, cereals. It should be noted, however, that women are more likely to be deficient in iron and folic acid, and in some cases, the addition of these two essential nutrients through eating is not enough.

Women are more likely to suffer from iron deficiency anemia than men because their iron reserves are low due to blood loss during menstrual periods. Non-pregnant women should pay attention to risk factors that promote iron deficiency anemia and folic acid deficiency such as prolonged bleeding, bleeding when menstruation, abstinence (sometimes because of obsession fat). If anemia is this type, women will suffer from frequent fatigue, reduce physical activity, reduce memory .

In pregnant women , the risk of iron deficiency anemia and folic acid deficiency is much higher. When pregnant, iron stores available in pregnant women are very easy to meet the demand for red blood cells due to increasing blood volume more and more to feed the fetus. The need for folic acid increased four times as much as before pregnancy. In pregnant women, iron deficiency anemia increases the risk of infection and increases the risk of blood loss during birth and postpartum, miscarriage, fetal growth retardation, and preterm birth. If folic acid is lacking, the fetus is prone to neural tube defects (a defect that leads to an uncontrolled neural tube; most neural tube defects are often seen as spina bifida, also known as spinal spine. split in half).

Because folic acid is easily lost during food processing and preservation, in the US and many European countries there is a law to increase folic acid in wheat flour to prevent folic acid deficiency in the community. If pregnant women treated for malaria, epilepsy or taking methotrexate are required to take folic acid supplements.

Prevention of iron deficiency anemia and folic acid deficiency is not difficult in women of reproductive age and pregnant women. Just taking one tablet containing folic acid and iron every day is enough to supply folic acid and iron to the body.

Note when taking folic acid and iron medications:

- Do not drink with tea (tea) but drink with cool boiled water (because tea hampers iron absorption).

- Do not take with antacids to treat stomach ulcers - duodenum (iron is not absorbed), do not take with tetracycline (tetracycline is reduced absorption).

- After taking the medicine, the bowel movements are black (due to the color of the iron, this is an unsettling sign).

Due to the negative consequences of iron deficiency anemia and the lack of folic acid mentioned above, it is important to consider the prevention and early treatment of this disorder in the reproductive health care program in women.