A vitamin that is essential for the production of red blood cells by the bone marrow. Folic acid is contained in a variety of foods, particularly liver and raw vegetables; adequate amounts are usually included in a normal diet. During pregnancy, folic acid is important for fetal growth and in the development of the nervous system and formation of blood cells. The incidence of neural tube defects is reduced if women take folic acid supplements for a month before conception and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Folic acid deficiency is a cause of megaloblastic anaemia, which produces symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and pallor. Deficiency can occur during any serious illness or can be the result of a nutritionally poor diet.
Folic acid |
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