Does Folic acid help produce red blood cells?

Why Folic Acid helps for Anemia:

Folic acid provides the body with the proper vitamin B9 nutrition that supports the production of healthy red blood cells and helps improve their maturation. Hence, it allows proper development of blood cells and reduces the risks of any abnormalities or creating faulty cells.

Furthermore, consuming natural folate from foods rich in folate may overcome the MTHFR mutation helping in the maturation of red blood cells. 

In addition, folic acid could decrease homocysteine levels in the blood which cause anemia, and thus allows proper formation of red blood cells. 

How Folic Acid works for Anemia:

When we consume folic acid, our body converts it to folate, which is transformed into tetrahydrofolic acid (THF). The latter is important for the synthesis of DNA and RNA, hence allowing the maturation of red blood cells.

This reduces the presence of faulty red blood cells and ensures normal levels of red blood cells. 

Moreover, folic acid works on the formation of heme, which is necessary to form hemoglobin. Hemoglobin allows proper maturation of red blood cells and decreases the count of faulty red blood cells. As a result, it reduces the occurrence of anemia in the body.

In the case of MTHFR gene mutation natural folate aids in the production of DNA and RNA. 

Additionally, folic acid’s metabolism decreases the levels of homocysteine by breaking this amino acid down in the blood, to ensure proper red blood cells formation.

Folic Acid Dosage for Anemia:

Folic acid is mostly available in capsules or tablets. However, it can also be present in liquid form. It can be administered either intravenously through the vein, or through the muscle or skin based on what the doctor suggests.

For folic deficiency, the usual dosage for adults is 0.4-1 mg either orally, intravenously, through the muscle or skin. This dosage should be taken only once daily.

The dosage for infants is 15 mcg/kg/day or 50 mcg/day either orally, intravenously, through the muscle or skin. However, for children ages 1-10 years old, the dosage starts with 1 mg/day then becomes 0.1-0.4 mg/day either orally, intravenously, through the muscle or skin.

Dosages should always be consulted by the doctor in order to revise each person’s personal case according to age and medical condition, if any.

Folic Acid for Anemia: precautions

1.  People with certain medical conditions:

People with the following conditions should be careful and always check before taking folic acid:

• Allergies: It is possible to have a reaction to folic acid which might lead to skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing, redness. 
• Alcoholism: you need to avoid drinking alcohol as it could interfere with the absorption of folic acid in the body. Alcohol increases the rate of breakdown of the vitamin allowing it to be discharged faster from the body.
• Digestive disorders: people with digestive disorders such as celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease, should pay attention when they consume folic acid because their conditions could interfere with the absorption of folic acid and decrease it.
• Genetic variants: people who acquire the MTHFR gene can’t convert folic acid to folate, which is the active form used by the body.

2.  Interaction with different Medications

Folic acid may interact with different medications and exacerbate certain conditions. Consult your doctor or healthcare provider before taking folic acid supplements if you take the following medication: 

• Anticonvulsants medication: such as cerebyx, phenytoin, and primidone- could decrease the concentration of the supplement in your blood.
• Barbiturates, methotrexate, and pyrimethamine medications: could decrease the drug’s effectiveness

Folic Acid for Anemia: side effects

If you take folic acid, some side effects can take place such as nausea, loss of appetite, irritability, and bad breath. 

Possible health risks:

Pregnant women should always be aware of folic acid levels in their body since a growing baby tends to absorb lots of folic acid from their mother. If they go below average that could increase risks for anemia, pre-term birth, and low birth weight.