Can folic acid improve health and prevent diseases?

Why Folic Acid helps reduce Chronic Inflammation:

Supplying the body with folic acid provides the body with a sufficient amount of vitamin B9. This helps regulates DNA methylation to balance the body’s functions and limits the pro-inflammatory molecule’s prolonged presence in the body. As a result, the risk of chronic inflammation decreases.

Furthermore, vitamin B9 reduces the levels of homocysteine in the blood which regulates nitric oxide production and decreases the chances of endothelial dysfunction. This limits the risk of chronic inflammation.

Additionally, folic acid could regulate reactive oxygen species levels in the body, hence limiting DNA mutations and reducing inflammation.

How Folic Acid works for Chronic Inflammation:

Folic acid is converted into folate by the body and then transformed into tetrahydrofolic acid (THF). This is important for DNA synthesis and methylation, hence reducing mutations and damage to the DNA. As a result, risk of chronic inflammation decreases.

Folic acid also helps in decreasing concentrations of C-reactive proteins and peripheral inflammatory cytokines, which are proteins that increases upon inflammation. This reduces inflammation in the body and limits the uprise of long-term inflammation.

Moreover, vitamin B9 plays an important role in breaking down the homocysteine amino acid in the blood. By doing so, useful chemicals of this amino acid are properly utilized by the body, hence reducing the chances of abnormal nitric oxide levels and endothelial dysfunction. As a result, this decreases the risk of chronic inflammation.

Also, folic acid has an antioxidant effect on multiple pathways in the body. This allows the reduction of reactive oxygen species formation reducing in return signs of inflammation.

Folic Acid Dosage for Chronic Inflammation:

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.

The suggested dosage of folic acid for chronic inflammation is yet to be determined. However, the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) recommends that men and women older than 19 years old should take an oral dose of at least 400mcg on a daily basis. In addition, the injectable dose of liquid folic acid is set at 5mg/ml daily.

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 Chronic Inflammation: 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 genetic mutations can impact folate transport into the cell and brain.

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 Chronic Inflammation: side effects

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