Previous studies have shown an association between
high folic acid intake and a reduction in the immune system defenses needed to fight viral infections and cancer.
Average
daily folic acid intake was evaluated based on the amount as well as the frequency of dietary supplements consumed containing folic acid, and also the food supplemented with folic acid consumed.
Ligi continued, «The potential role of
excess folic acid intake in increasing susceptibility to disease must also be taken into consideration.»
In a new study in mice published in the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, scientists at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University (HNRCA) set out to determine if excess
folic acid intake caused adverse changes in the immune system.
The research discovered that mothers of normally developing children reported more than
average folic acid intake, and had been more likely to fulfill intake recommendations throughout the 1st month of pregnancy compared to mothers of children having autism spectrum disorder.
The study established a causal relationship between
excess folic acid intake and lowered NK cell activity in an aged mouse model.
Their study in aged mice indicates that high
folic acid intake causes lowered immune function because natural killer (NK) cells, a particular type of immune cell, are less effective.
If you are expecting triplets, increase
your folic acid intake to reduce the risk of neural tube defects, consume plenty of calcium to help the babies» bones and teeth develop, and make sure your diet contains enough protein for the cellular development of three babies.
If you're pregnant with multiples, you should follow general pregnancy nutrition guidelines, including increasing your calcium and
folic acid intake.
These results build upon the findings of a previous study in 2005 by the same lab that found that 78 percent of healthy postmenopausal women had unmetabolized folic acid in their blood plasma, which is indicative of excess
folic acid intake.
and increase your consumption of «enriched whole grains» to boost
your folic acid intake.
This is because increased histamines can lead to a healthy sex life and better orgasms for both men and women — and asparagus is high in folic acid, which boosts histamine production.16 You may not see this result instantly — but upping
your folic acid intake can help over time.