Using Folic Acid Supplements for Healthy Hair Growth

Healthy hair growth can depend on things such as lifestyle, diet, hair dyes, perms, sun exposure and a number of other things. Hair loss can be due to many factors, this can be from the use of hair dye which causes damage to the hair follicle and thins the hair over time, or a deficiency of silica which causes the hair to continually fall out in small amounts when hair is combed or brushed. It can also occur from treatments for cancer, as well as other deficiencies the body may be experiencing from a lack of proper nutrients such as alcohol abuse, kidney dialysis, pregnancy and lactation, malabsorption problems, liver diseases, certain types of anemia and certain types of medication. The relation of folic acid supplements to health and healthy hair are closely linked where there is a deficiency of this vitamin. Folic acid or B9 is one of the B vitamins with the highest amounts obtained from leafy green vegetables, peas, beans, lentils, Baker's yeast, fortified breakfast cereals, kidneys, liver, high folate containing liver products, sunflower seeds and egg yolks, as well as having moderate amounts in many other types of foods.

When an individual becomes deficient in nutrients that are essential for keeping the body and hair healthy, certain types of deficiencies begin to show themselves in different ways, and a deficiency of folic acid or folate can cause a number of health problems. Folium is the Latin word for leaf from which folate obtains its name, it was discovered in a yeast extract towards the end of the 1930s and in 1941 was obtained from spinach leaves. Folate is important for new cell growth and division and is especially important when rapid periods of cell division and growth occur in pregnancy and infancy. RNA and DNA require folate, and folic acid supplements may help with the prevention of changes to DNA that may be a cause of cancer. It is needed to produce red blood cells for the prevention of anemia and helps with the maintenance of amino acids keeping them at a normal level in the body.

Proper levels of folate in the body can promote healthy hair growth, and where there is a deficiency hair may become dull and lack the luster and growth that healthy hair displays. When this happens a folic acid supplement may correct some of the symptom of a folate deficiency such as a sore tongue, headaches, weakness, irritability, heart palpitations, loss of appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, behavioral problems, forgetfulness and a risk of cardiovascular disease. Other symptoms of folic acid deficiencies may be low birth weights, premature babies, and neural tube defects in infants born to mothers that are folate deficient. A generally slow growth rate occurs in children and infants, plus an extensive folate deficiency in adults can cause a certain type of anemia. Care should be taken when deciding to take folic acid supplements as a large intake of this type of supplement may cause other health problems. Folate consumed from natural types of food does not pose a health problem, an intake from fortified foods is usually low, and taking supplements generally has a low health risk unless the daily amount is exceeded there is a Vitamin B12 deficiency or certain types of drugs are being taken.