Content Sources:
[1] Li Yadong, Zhang Jinxin, Ma Liping.Investigation of the current situation of folic acid supplementation in the elderly and analysis of influencing factors[J].China Medicine,2024,19(04):584-588.
[2] Ren Wenbin, Li Jianting, Xie Jun.New insights into neural tube closure: folic acid non-response neural tube malformation[J/OL].Chinese Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology,1-26[2024-04-22].h
[3] Li Hua, Shen Xueping, Lu Xuanli, et al.Application of folic acid metabolism gene detection in reducing the incidence of fetal neural tube malformations[J].China Maternal and Child Health Care,
Studies have shown that the human body functions gradually decline from the age of 20. At the age of 20, the brain and lungs begin to deteriorate, at the age of 25, the skin begins to age, at the age of 30, the muscles begin to age, and so on. Therefore, in the process of aging, we will also rely on health supplements to slow down the decline of function, but do you really choose from the various health supplements on the market? and do you really know how to eat them?
Grandma Wang is 65 years old this year, she is very health-conscious, and knows that as long as people are old, there will be more or less problems in their bodies, not only do they have physical examinations on time every year, but they also buy various health products for eating. Every time she talks about health care products, she has the most right to speak, and the head of her talk is the Tao. Compared with her peers, Grandma Wang is indeed physically stronger and more energetic, so she believes that in addition to her good daily habits, her health supplements also contribute to it.
In November 2022, Grandma Liu found that she was always dizzy and her memory was much worse, thinking that she had not had a physical examination this year, so she planned to go to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up. There are no major problems, but the blood pressure is 156/78mmHg, which is grade I hypertension. Grandma Wang was taken aback. Because the old man next door was paralyzed in bed because of cerebral infarction due to high blood pressure. Food, clothing, housing and transportation all depend on her family, and she can't accept herself like this. I hurriedly asked the doctor what should I do?
The doctor told Grandma Wang that there was no need to worry too much, it was normal for her blood pressure to be high when she was old and her blood vessels were aging. And Grandma Wang has no other chronic diseases and is a new-onset hypertension patient, she can be observed for 3 months, and if the blood pressure is still higher than 140/90mmHg after 3 months, she can consider taking antihypertensive drugs.
Although the doctor comforted Grandma Wang, she thought she could not sit still. After learning that high blood pressure can lead to further hardening of blood vessels, and in the long run, it will also lead to the formation of plaques, and plaque rupture can also cause cerebral thrombosis, which can lead to stroke, not to mention other harms. Grandma Wang, who was scared, couldn't sleep at night. I was looking for a suitable health supplement for myself, so I chose folic acid among many health supplements.
Grandma Wang is a cautious person, and she is fully aware of the benefits of folic acid. First of all, folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin, which has only a lot more benefits for the human body, especially for people with high blood pressure like her. Folic acid can prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and reduce the risk of stroke. Because folic acid can lower homocysteine, a high-risk factor associated with atherosclerosis and thrombosis, folic acid supplementation can affect homocysteine synthesis and reduce its levels.
Secondly, folic acid can also pre-decimate Alzheimer's disease and protect the nervous system. Folic acid can not only nourish nerve endings, but also maintain the normal function of nerve cells, and supplementing folic acid can improve the memory of the elderly, and can also effectively reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease in the elderly. At the same time, folic acid can inhibit renal fibrosis, protect kidney function and prevent kidney disease. Folic acid can also increase insulin sensitivity and promote a decrease in blood sugar.
According to these effects, Grandma Wang felt that she was too suitable to take folic acid. I put folic acid on my bedside table to remind myself not to forget. One month later, the blood pressure was 142/78mmHg, and three months later, Grandma Wang's blood pressure successfully dropped to 132/76mmHg, which Grandma Wang thought was all due to folic acid. Happily increase the dosage of folic acid, from one tablet twice a day to two tablets at a time.
In May 2023, Grandma Wang found that she was always in poor spirits, always feeling flustered after exercise, unable to breathe, had no appetite to eat, and was always bloated, and her whole person always exuded a tired breath. Grandma Liu thought that she was too old to be useful. However, just a few days later, when Grandma Wang was going up the stairs, she felt like her heart was about to jump out, and she was dizzy, and then her eyes turned black and she fainted.
Fortunately, a neighbor found Grandma Liu fainting on the ground, and hurriedly called 120 to send Grandma Wang to the hospital. Fortunately, after a brain CT examination, Grandma Liu had no abnormalities, but the blood test showed that the hemoglobin was 85g/L, which was a moderate anemia. The doctor carefully asked Grandma Wang about her diet and medication. learned that Grandma Wang was taking a large dose of folic acid for a long time, and told Grandma Liu that the culprit that caused him to faint was folic acid.
Because the body function of the elderly deteriorates, it is prone to atrophic gastritis, which leads to a decrease in gastric acid secretion by the stomach glands. Vitamin B12 needs to be absorbed under the action of gastric acid and pepsin, and the decrease in gastric acid secretion will reduce the absorption of B12. Vitamin B12 is not only an important raw material for hematopoiesis, but also an important vitamin for maintaining the normal function of nerve cells. Long-term high doses of oral folic acid mask the symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency, triggering vitamin B12 deficiency leading to macrocytic anemia.
Hearing the doctor's explanation, Grandma Liu regretted that she had made the wrong choice at that time. And assured the doctor that he would never take folic acid again. The doctor told Grandma Liu that it is no problem for the elderly to supplement folic acid for a long time, but to take it safely, you also need to pay attention to these 3 points!
Folic acid supplementation is more common in pregnant women, which can help fetal neurological development, avoid neural tube malformations in the fetus, promote fetal heart development, and can also increase the immunity of pregnant women and improve anxiety during pregnancy. In addition, some people with anemia, malnutrition, digestive diseases such as gastritis, enteritis, etc., as well as people with mental diseases, such as epilepsy, Parkinson's, etc., also need to be supplemented, but they should be taken according to the doctor's instructions.
One is to pay attention to the dose
It is necessary to take folic acid according to the doctor's instructions, and not excessive oral administration of folic acid, long-term high doses of folic acid will inhibit the absorption of trace element zinc, which will lead to nausea, vomiting, bloating and other digestive discomfort symptoms. At the same time, there are two specifications of folic acid on the market, and you need to carefully see the dosage when buying folic acid on your own. After taking folic acid, it is recommended not to eat spicy and irritating foods, and try not to drink strong tea, carbonated drinks, alcohol, etc., so as not to affect the absorption of folic acid.
The second is the effect with other drugs
Drugs can promote or antagonize each other. Antacids can reduce the effectiveness of folic acid and reduce the body's absorption of folic acid. Therefore, if you have gastrointestinal diseases that require taking antacids and gastric medicines, or when folic acid is combined with other medications, you should inform your doctor to avoid adverse consequences.
The third is the intake of folic acid in food
For people who need to take folic acid, in addition to knowing that folic acid preparations can be supplemented, it is also important to know which foods are rich in folic acid. Those foods contain folic acid, common green vegetables are spinach, cauliflower, rape, bok choy, etc., studies have shown that people who make soup or like to boil vegetables will cause 50%-95% of folic acid loss in food, for people who lack folic acid, in order to reduce the loss of folic acid, eat vegetables as cold as possible or dip sauce.
In addition to vegetables, fresh fruits such as oranges, cherries, bananas, peaches, etc. are also rich in folic acid. There are also meat and eggs, such as animal liver, but also chicken, beef, lamb and eggs, including beans and nuts.
Therefore, whether the elderly can take folic acid for a long time mainly depends on taking it correctly. Folic acid does have a great effect on the human body, and if you are allergic to folic acid, you must prohibit taking it to avoid allergic reactions and cause greater harm. And only when it is taken in moderation and cannot be abused privately, it will be safe to eat and healthy, so as not to cause excessive use of folic acid.