Periconceptional supplementation with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects.docVIP

 PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 15 Periconceptional supplementation with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects Keywords:: 1. Neural tube defects / prevention and control 2. Folic acid Neural tube defects (NTDs) are one of the most common congenital malformations. Mainly types of spina bifida and anencephaly. Various studies have shown that Periconceptional supplementation with folic acid can significantly reduce the incidence of NTDs. But also there are many studies on how to make the best of folic acid supplement raised guidance. 1. Nutrition and physiology The human body can not synthesis of folic acid and must therefore be totally dependent on exogenous supply. Most of the natural form of folic acid are multi-glutamic acid, but the participation in the metabolism of folic acid required to form a single glutamic acid. Glutamate in food more than the previous paragraph must be in the small intestine into a single glutamic acid in order to be absorbed. Thus, compared with synthetic folic acid formulations the bioavailability of natural folate better. Human folate levels in plasma, serum and blood cells obtained. Determination of plasma and serum, but can only reflect the absorption and utilization or storage, the temporary concentration does not accurately reflect the true level of folic acid. Erythrocyte folate concentrations of relatively stable, the body can reflect the average level of folic acid three months, but poor reproducibility applications are limited. Folic acid has two important biological role. It is the synthesis of DNA and RNA enzymes play an important role in the co-factor for the de novo synthesis of nucleotides to provide one-carbon units; in the methylation of amino acids involved in methyl transfer cycle, in the same protein, homocysteine to ammonia acids play an important role in the conversion. Embryo formation and rapid growth of the fetus during development of nucleic acid and protein synthesis of the most vibrant, so this time on the mo