Folic Acid News and Research

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Folic acid is a B vitamin. It helps the body make healthy new cells. Everyone needs folic acid. For women who may get pregnant, it is really important. When a woman has enough folic acid in her body before and during pregnancy, it can prevent major birth defects of her baby's brain or spine.

Foods with folic acid in them include leafy green vegetables, fruits, dried beans, peas and nuts. Enriched breads, cereals and other grain products also contain folic acid. If you don't get enough folic acid from the foods you eat, you can also take it as a dietary supplement.

Antioxidants do not improve sperm quality in infertile men, finds study

A large clinical trial has shown that daily antioxidant supplementation among men with infertility does not make a difference to the quality of their sperm.

2 Jul 2018

Substantial number of older adults at risk of vitamin B12 and folate deficiency, study shows

A new study by researchers from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, has shown for the first time that a substantial number of adults over 50 are at risk of deficiency in vitamin B12 and folate (the natural vitamin linked to the dietary supplement, folic acid).

27 Jun 2018

New study finds increase in use of alternative medicines among children

A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics shows that since 2003, the use of alternative medicines, such as herbal products and nutraceuticals, among children has doubled.

19 Jun 2018

Nutrient supplements do not provide extra benefits says new Australian survey

According to a recent nutrition survey in Australia, 29 percent of the population are taking at least one dietary supplement a day. In the United States, at least 52 percent are taking a dietary supplement a day. The study attempted to look at the long term benefits offered by regular intake of vitamin and mineral supplements for the prevention of diseases such as heart disease and stroke as well as premature death.

30 May 2018

Study: Vitamin or mineral supplements are not beneficial for preventing or treating heart disease

Current research does not show enough evidence that vitamin or mineral supplements are beneficial for preventing or treating heart disease, with the exception of folic acid for reducing stroke risk, according to a review article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

29 May 2018

Study finds fewer than 5% of low-income, urban mothers use prenatal vitamins before pregnancy

A study of more than 7,000 low-income, urban mothers enrolled in the Boston Birth Cohort found that fewer than 5 percent of them started folic acid supplementation and used it almost daily before pregnancy, a widely recommended public health measure designed to prevent potentially crippling birth defects.

24 May 2018

New study reveals the extent of brain damage due to elevated homocysteine

The amino acid homocysteine occurs naturally in the human body, generated as a byproduct of methionine metabolism.

17 May 2018

Older Americans are hooked on vitamins despite scarce evidence they work

When she was a young physician, Dr. Martha Gulati noticed that many of her mentors were prescribing vitamin E and folic acid to patients. Preliminary studies in the early 1990s had linked both supplements to a lower risk of heart disease.

4 Apr 2018

Steps to take for boosting immune system and maintaining a healthy body

We know that germs can make you sick, but if you seem to constantly be under the weather with cold symptoms, could it be something other than germs that are getting you down?

24 Feb 2018

Study reveals how carbohydrate-restricted diet improves metabolism

New details about how a carbohydrate-restricted diet improves metabolism were revealed in a study published today, which could lead to improved treatments for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

15 Feb 2018

American Heart Association certifies select peanuts with Heart-Check mark

The American Heart Association has certified select peanuts with the Heart-Check mark to make it easy for consumers to identify heart-healthy foods.

15 Feb 2018

Vitamin D deficiency during pregnancy could result in birth of obese children

Vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women could preprogram babies to grow into obese children and adults, according to a Keck School of Medicine of USC-led study.

13 Feb 2018

No-carb diet for pregnant woman could harm fetus, study finds

A new study from researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found that pregnant women and women wishing to get pregnant should avoid following diets that reduce or eradicate carbohydrates from their diet.

29 Jan 2018

Low carbohydrate intake linked to increased risk of having babies with neural tube defects

Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant may want to avoid diets that reduce or eliminate carbohydrates, as they could increase the risk of having babies with neural tube birth defects, according to a new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

25 Jan 2018

Women do not receive timely diagnosis for heart disease

A recent study has indicated that women who start menstruating at the age of 11 or earlier, or enter menopause before 47 have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. Some other factors that were associated with elevated odds of heart problems in later years were miscarriage, stillbirth, undergoing a hysterectomy, and bearing children at a young age.

17 Jan 2018

CHOP researchers explore effective nutritional therapies for mitochondrial disease

Defects in mitochondria, the tiny structures that power our cells by functioning as biological batteries, cause an array of complex, often life-threatening disorders that can affect any and all organs and systems.

10 Jan 2018

Adequate intake of choline during pregnancy could provide cognitive benefits for offspring

When expectant mothers consume sufficient amounts of the nutrient choline during pregnancy, their offspring gain enduring cognitive benefits, a new Cornell University study suggests.

4 Jan 2018

Using vitamin supplements before and during pregnancy may be linked to lower risk for ASD in children

The use of folic acid and multivitamin supplements by women before and during pregnancy was associated with a lower likelihood of autism spectrum disorder in children but this finding needs to be interpreted with caution because other factors could explain it.

3 Jan 2018

Folic acid supplementation during late pregnancy may increase risk of allergies in offspring

A new study suggests that taking folic acid in late pregnancy may increase the risk of allergies in offspring affected by intrauterine growth restriction.

21 Dec 2017

Nutritionist highlights importance of vitamin D for pregnant women and new mums

Every mother-to-be wants to ensure they do all they can to give their baby the best start in life. Growing a healthy baby starts with ensuring optimal nutrition whilst you’re pregnant.

From BetterYou Ltd 23 Oct 2017