Preview

Folic Acid History

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
914 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Folic Acid History
What is it?
Folic acid is a water soluble B vitamin. It is used during pregnancy to prevent Neural Tube Defects (NTD's). NTD's are birth defects of the brain, spine or spinal cord (MedlinePlus). They can be fatal depending on how bad the injury is especially if it is to the brain. Folic acid works with vitamin B12 in the formation of red blood cells. Deficiency in both folic acid and vitamin B12 causes a certain type of anemia known as macrocytic anemia. Macrocytic anemia is a type of anemia that causes the red blood cells to become enlarged and have a reduced capacity to carry oxygen. Folic acid also helps with the formation of DNA within every body cell. (Mandal, news-medical)
History
Folic acid was created by a British scientist named Lucy …show more content…
There are two main types of NTD's the first is spina bifida and the second is anencephaly. There are 3 main types of spina bifida. The first one is spina bifida occulta, which is a mild form of spina bifida (shine charity). Spina bifida is Latin for split spine and occulta means hidden; spina bifida is a split in the spine hidden by the skin (SBH Queensland). The second one is spina bifida meningocele. With this type of spina bifida a sac filled with fluids comes through the babies back without the spinal cord being in the sac, there is little or no nerve damage. The third type is myelomeningocele. This is the most severe form of spina bifida and along with the sac of fluids the spinal cord starts growing in the sac and outside of the body (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Anencephaly is also an NTD in which a baby is born without parts of its brain or skull. It is the most serious type of defect (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). Therefore, folic acid is mostly used in order in to reduce the risk of
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Bio 101 Ch. 6,7 31 Quiz
    • 369 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Bio 101 Ch. 6,7 31 Quiz

    1. In the following reaction, which of the following is an example of a substrate?…

    • 369 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Spina Bifida Thesis Statement
    • 308 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Spina Bifida Thesis Statement

    I’m doing my project on Spina Bifida. Each year, about 1,500 babies are born with spina bifida. Hispanic women have the highest rate of having a child affected by spina bifida compared with Non-Hispanic White and Non-Hispanic Black women: Hispanic: 4.17 per 10,000Non-Hispanic Black or African-American: 2.64 per10,000 Non-Hispanic White: 3.22 per 10,000 Spina bifida may be a birth defect most kids who have spina bifida don’t have issues from it. It happens when the bones of the spine (vertebrae) don’t type properly around a part of the baby’s spinal wire. It will have an effect on how the skin on the rear appearance. And in severe cases, it will create walking or daily activities.…

    • 308 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Sci 241 Week 5
    • 24622 Words
    • 99 Pages

    Sci 241 Week 5

    Thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, and pantothenic acid are B vitamins needed to produce ATP from carbohydrate, fat, and protein. Vitamin B6 is important for amino acid metabolism as well as energy production. Folate is a coenzyme that is needed for cell division. Vitamin B12, only found in animal foods, is needed for nerve function and to activate folate. Vitamin C is needed to form connective tissue and acts as a watersoluble antioxidant. Vitamin A is essential for vision, and it regulates cell differentiation and growth. Vitamin D is necessary for bone health. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant. Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting.…

    • 24622 Words
    • 99 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Spina Bifida Research Paper
    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Spina Bifida Research Paper

    There are several different forms of Spina Bifida. 1) Spina Bifida Cystica\Myelomeningocele is the most severe form and leads to nerve damage and other disabilities. Infants born with this type of spina bifida usually have an excessive amount of fluid on their brains. This occurs because the fluid that protects the brain and the spinal chord in unable to drain properly. The fluid builds up causing pressure and swelling.2) Spina Bifida Occulta usually does cause harm and most people are unaware that they have the illness. 3) The last type of Spina Bifida is Meningocele occurs when a part of the spine chord is protruding though the spine. There is usually no nerve damage and may lead to minor disabilities.…

    • 527 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Spina Bifida Report
    • 525 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Spina Bifida Report

    One out of every one thousand babies are born with spina bifida. In 1992, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended that all women of childbearing age consume 400 micrograms of folic acid daily to reduce the risk of having a pregnancy affected by neural tube defects , such as spina bifida. There are certain conditions the can accompany Spina Bifida.…

    • 525 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Medical Terminology Breakdown Analysis
    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Medical Terminology Breakdown Analysis

    Individuals with spina bifida are growing into adulthood and need to have the proper extensive health care. The article says that Spina Bifida is the most common birth defect affecting the central nervous system. It is the most complex birth defect because it is so complex. Diagnosis and treatment begins before birth, this is the first issue of the journal devoted solely to spinal bifida since 1998.This paper is important because the research done teaches us things about spinal bifida which is more prevalent than many other neurogenic disorders, and can impact treatment for people with other development disabilities I just found out that I son has spina bifida. Spina bifida involves genetic and environmental factors; the most common form is myelomeningocele and usually affects the brain. Spina bifida is perceived by the public as an orthopedic disorder because of the difficulties with ambulation. Pre-natal diagnosis involves alpha-fetoprotein screening and ultrasonography in neural tube defects because definitive chromosomal abnormalities are usually not present. More individuals with spinal bifida live into adulthood. The effective transition of care from pediatric to adult setting is increasingly important. The study and information for adults with spinal bifida lags behind all other chronic health…

    • 667 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Above Picture Illustrates Amniocentesis
    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Above Picture Illustrates Amniocentesis

    As this procedure is quite invasive, it is only offered under specific circumstances. These circumstances include any high risk pregnancy due to the mother’s age (generally 35 or older), history of genetic disorder(s), or from receiving abnormal results from a prenatal prescreening test such as an alpha fetoprotein screening. In an alpha-fetoprotein test, the level of alpha-fetoprotein in the mother’s blood is measured to see if further testing is necessary. Alpha fetoprotein is a protein produced in the fetus’, or unborn child’s, liver. Abnormal test results could signal the presence or development of an open neural tube defect i.e. spina bifida, etc. Fetal maturation includes a process called neurulation in which the neural tube (tube that connect brain to central nervous system) develops and eventually closes in on itself to ensure the growth of other neural tissue. In open neural tube defects, the neural tube does not close typically resulting in death of the fetus.…

    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Spina Bifida Informative Speech
    • 583 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Spina Bifida Informative Speech

    Spina bifida is a developmental birth defect caused by the incomplete closure of the embryonic neural tube, in three different forms…

    • 583 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Spina Bifida Research Paper
    • 982 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Spina Bifida Research Paper

    Spina bifida is the most common neural tube defect in the United States.1 It is estimated that between 1500 and 2000 children are born with spina bifida each year in the United States, with the current number of spina bifida cases totaling 166,000.1 There are four types of spina bifida: occulta, closed neural tube defects, meningocele, and myelomeningocele.1 Spina bifida occulta is where one more vertebras are malformed and covered by skin.1 In individuals with a closed neural tube defects, the spinal cord has malformations of fat, bone, and meninges.1 Spina bifida meningocele occurs when spinal fluid and meninges protrude through an abnormal vertebral opening.1 This type of spina bifida does not have any neural contents in the vertebral opening.1 Depending on the patient, the vertebral opening may or may not be covered by skin.1 A person with meningocele may have very few symptoms, or may experience several severe symptoms.1 The final type is myelomeningocele; the…

    • 982 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Essay On Whole Food Multivitamin
    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Essay On Whole Food Multivitamin

    Folic acid. Folic acid is common in most weight loss products. It's there to prevent as well as treat folate levels that are low, stroke, heart, liver and kidney diseases. It also increases nutrient absorption, treats eye diseases, restores memory, bone health and prevents hearing loss. By implementing folic acid in your diet, your nails and hair will be stronger, plus your skin will be clearer.…

    • 1063 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Spina Bifida College Essay
    • 964 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Spina Bifida College Essay

    When a mother is pregnant, the first few weeks of the pregnancy are most delicate and imperative for the offspring’s development throughout term and, even, life. Folic Acid, like many other things mothers must be aware of, is one of the most important vitamins that can help prevent brain and spinal birth defects. These types of birth defects are called Neural Tube Defects (NTDs), which can develop during the early stages of pregnancy, when the embryo starts to develop their neural tube into the spinal cord and other structures, like the brain, that protect and surround those areas (NIH 2012). These birth defects occur during the first stages of pregnancy but a lot women do not realize that they are pregnant at that stage. On average, every…

    • 964 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Essay On Spina Bifida
    • 1356 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Essay On Spina Bifida

    The exact cause of spina bifida remains unknown. No one knows what disrupts complete closure of the neural tube, causing a malformation to develop. Many leading scientists suspect genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors play a role. Research studies indicate that insufficient intake of folic acid, a common B vitamin in the mother’s diet is a key factor in causing spina bifida and other neural tube defects. It is of utmost importance that prenatal care includes prenatal vitamins that are prescribed for the pregnant mother and should typically contain folic acid as well as other…

    • 1356 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Survival of the Sickest: the Human Evolution of Why We Need Disease
    • 3431 Words
    • 14 Pages

    Survival of the Sickest: the Human Evolution of Why We Need Disease

    Folic acid and Folate; L.D. Botto, A. Lisi, E. Robert – Gnansia, et al. 2005.…

    • 3431 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hca 220 Week 8
    • 360 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Hca 220 Week 8

    Since spinal Bifida can be diagnosed before birth, treatments also begin when the fetus is enurtero and continue threw out life. Spinal Bifida is the leading neurological disorder that is congeitive. It is a life long struggle when someone suffers from Spinal Bifida. Spinal Bifida effects cognition, adaption along with behavior. The characteristics that affect the brain also include neurological dysfunction on multiple organ systems. Spinal Bifida still does not receive the acclaim in should for the effects that it has on social , development and behavioral abnormalities that it causes one. In the public school system it is often view as an orthopedic impairment rather then a developmental issue, even though most people with Spinal Bifida have congenital malformations of the brain. Theses malformations effect speech , reading and comprehension along with some information not being able to be retained.…

    • 360 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Nutrition and Milk
    • 931 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Nutrition and Milk

    Fluid is also very important for babies as the kidney and other organs are not developed enough at birth to function fully.…

    • 931 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics