Vitamin B9 is also known as folic acid and folate. It has much importance in production and maintenance of new cells. This is specially needed in the high growth period like pregnancy, infancy, and adolescence when the growth of cells is too high. It is also required for creation of the red blood cell. It is mostly required in the period of pregnancy when there is a huge requirement for the red blood cell as well as growth of the stem cells. In those cases the there is a need for folic acid supplement and in most of the cases it is supplied along with iron and vitamin B complex.
Enough folic acid in the early pregnancy will prevent the birth defects caused by in sufficiency of vitamin B9. It will avoid the problem of neural tube defects and brain defects. Pregnant women without sufficient folic acid will lead to abortion or a premature delivery.
It is one of those water-soluble vitamins, which are required for the treatment of nutritional megaloblastic anemia. Generally, these types of anemia are found during pregnancy and infancy. It is found beneficial for the treatment of Sprue an intestinal disease. It has a proven record for the treatment of the recurring abortion. Iron and vitamin B12 is given along with folic acid to avoid these types of problem.
Folic acid is the best treatment for improving the mental condition as well as the treatment of the mentally retarded children. It has quick healing response for the disease. Some times brown spots are found on the skin. Spotty pigmentation is generally found on the face and inner mouth armpits and the thighs. This happens particularly in case of pregnant women and for girls having irregular menstrual flow. In such cases, folic acid acts as a boon for them to erase the pigmentation. It is also helpful in some cases of gout.
