In addition to vitamin and mineral complexes, expectant mothers are prescribed folic acid. But this enzyme, also called vitamin B9, is important at the stage of pregnancy planning. Moreover, it should be drunk not only by the woman, but also by her partner. We will find out what the benefits of folic acid are for men, what products it contains, and how to use drugs based on it.
Material Content:
What is folic acid for men?
Folic acid is necessary for the normal implementation of a number of cellular processes. And also it ensures the full functioning of the reproductive system in both sexes. Often the lack of this element in the body of one of the partners is the reason that the couple can not conceive a child.
In addition, a lack of vitamin B9 quite often causes various abnormalities in the fetus. Some of them appear already at the stage of intrauterine development, while others make themselves felt in the first years, or even months of a child’s life.
Among other things, this enzyme is responsible for the formation of DNA and RNA, and also for hereditary traits.
Therefore, folic acid for men when planning pregnancy is no less important than for women.
Some couples just need to adjust their nutrition to get the amount of folate needed by the cells. Others are prescribed special medications.This occurs when there are clear signs of a deficiency in this enzyme.
Daily requirement
Men need folic acid about 4 grams daily. But the attending physician can prescribe an increased dosage, if necessary. This is done in situations where folate consumption is increased.
This happens for the following reasons:
- diseases of the digestive tract, preventing the normal absorption of trace elements;
- alcohol abuse
- increased physical and emotional stress;
- prolonged use of certain medications.
It is also recommended that folate be taken in volumes exceeding 4 g per day, in situations where there are clear signs of a deficiency of this trace element in the body.
These include the following manifestations:
- frequent digestive upsets;
- impaired appetite;
- constant feeling of tiredness;
- unreasonable increased irritability;
- memory problems
- depressive states.
With a prolonged lack of vitamin B9, these symptoms are exacerbated, in addition, various disorders in the functioning of organs and systems may develop.
Instructions for use and dosage
Drugs with folic acid are prescribed by the doctor, he also determines the dose. In each case, an individual approach is carried out, and the desired volume is calculated, taking into account the state of health and the characteristics of the patient.
The instructions for use provide general recommendations on the use of folates. The abstract says that men need 1-2 tablets of vitamin B9 per day, which corresponds to 4-8 mg of the substance.
Men need to start drinking vitamin-containing products a few months before the planned conception. And when this happened, the drug is canceled, if there is no other reason for its further use in order to improve the condition of the body.
Benefits of Vitamin B9
The benefits of folic acid are due to the fact that this trace element improves the functioning of many organs and systems. Vitamin B9 are involved in such processes:
- The production of red blood cells. These compounds are responsible for the hemoglobin level, and the work of the organism as a whole depends on it. When there is a shortage, a person feels a general malaise, and disorders in the circulatory system also develop.
- Digestion. Vitamin B9 helps to normalize the acidity of the stomach and is responsible for the work of all organs of the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the enzyme is involved in the breakdown of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, contributing to their further conversion into energy.
- The functioning of the brain. Mental activity depends on the level of folate. It is these substances that contribute to the development of memory and attention. And when there is a shortage of them, brain productivity is significantly reduced.
- Maintaining the nervous system. It has long been proven that vitamin B9 is also able to affect the psycho-emotional background of a person. With its deficiency, stressful and depressive states develop, nervousness intensifies, outbreaks of irritability and aggression become more frequent.
- The work of the reproductive system. Since folates stimulate blood circulation, their effects help improve potency. And also with a sufficient amount of this enzyme in the composition of blood and cells, the quality of seminal fluid increases.
Since the human body produces folic acid in negligible doses, it is required to obtain the enzyme from the outside. Otherwise, it threatens with disorders affecting various body systems.
What products contain
To maintain a normal level of folate in the cells, it is not necessary to drink special medications. You can get B9 from food, if you properly organize the diet.
It is found in such foods:
- liver (especially beef and cod);
- sea fish and seafood;
- mushrooms;
- whole grain cereals;
- dairy products (better to use homemade);
- beans, pumpkin pulp and seeds, bell pepper and eggplant;
- asparagus, salads and other leafy greens;
- any kind of cabbage;
- citrus fruits.
Important! Folates have the ability to collapse under the influence of high temperatures. Therefore, vegetables and greens from the above list are better to eat fresh, and fish, liver and cereals to cook in the oven or a double boiler. Frying or stewing should be avoided.
Interaction with other substances
Keep in mind that folates are incompatible with certain types of substances.
Do not take vitamin B9 at the same time with such drugs:
- antibacterial agents, especially the tetracycline group;
- analgesics;
- drugs that affect hormone levels;
- anticonvulsant drugs;
- medicinal formulations designed to combat benign and malignant tumors.
In the case of simultaneous use with these medications, folic acid will be less absorbed by the body. And also it is incompatible with such types of substances as polymyxins, phenytoins, sulfonamides and chloramphenicol.
It should also be noted that alcoholic beverages and any medicinal formulations for internal use containing alcohol also impair the absorption of folic acid.
When a patient is forced to drink a medicine that cannot be consumed simultaneously with vitamin B9 due to certain conditions, he is prescribed drugs with calcium folinate. This substance has a similar effect.
To take folic acid is not useless, it is necessary to warn the attending physician if the patient is drinking any medications.
The effect of the drug on the male body when planning pregnancy
Folic acid contributes to the normalization of many processes that, to one degree or another, affect the quality indicators of seminal fluid and the condition of the man’s body as a whole.
These include:
- metabolism;
- the formation of immune cells;
- the assimilation of useful trace elements;
- maintaining normal hemoglobin levels;
- vascular improvement;
- hormone production;
- elimination of toxins;
- cell division;
- DNA synthesis.
When the above processes proceed normally, this provides better sperm activity, and also reduces the number of defective seminal cells. Therefore, taking folic acid will help prevent the development of any pathologies in the future baby.
Contraindications and side effects
Preparations containing vitamin B9 are not allowed to drink to everyone.
The following conditions are considered to be the main contraindications:
- intolerance to the components of the composition;
- metabolic disorders accompanied by iron deficiency;
- Vitamin B digestion disorder
Since folates are not components foreign to the human body, drugs containing them rarely cause side effects.
These include the following conditions:
- nausea and stool disorders;
- digestive disorders;
- increased irritability;
- insomnia or persistent drowsiness;
- cramps (very rare).
In case of an overdose, these problems manifest themselves more clearly, and in this case, drug withdrawal and symptomatic treatment are necessary. But this is extremely rare, since vitamin B9 is not able to accumulate in the cells.
However, despite this, folic acid should be avoided for a long time for no apparent reason.
This may result in:
- allergies and urticaria;
- respiratory dysfunction;
- kidney problems;
- decrease in vitamin B12 levels in cells.
When taking folates, it is important to adhere to the recommendations of a specialist. You can not ignore the fact that even the most useful enzyme for the body can cause significant harm to health if used incorrectly.
