Flintstones vitamins are a type of multivitamin marketed for children that provide many of the vitamins and minerals required for growth. This brand of multivitamin does provide adequate amounts of folic acid for your growing child. If you decide to give her a Flintstones multivitamin, talk with your pediatrician first to avoid any adverse reactions or problems with overdoses. While these easy-to-consume vitamins are geared toward children, they are safe for adults, as well.
Folic Acid vs. Folate
Folic acid is one of several important water-soluble B vitamins you need from your diet or supplement every day. You may also hear the term "folate" while referencing folic acid; either of these terms refers to the same substance. Folic acid is the more stable form found in fortified foods and dietary supplements, such as Flinstones vitamins, while folate is the naturally occurring form in foods.
Function of Folic Acid
Folic acid is essential for the metabolism of proteins. Coenzymes of folic acid accept and donate single-carbons during biochemical processes of nucleic acids and amino acids. These types of proteins are essential for normal neurological growth and function. Folic acid is an essential nutrient for women of childbearing age, as it helps prevent neural tube defects, resulting in malformations in the central nervous system. Neural tube defects occur between the 21st and 27th day of pregnancy, usually before you are aware of a growing fetus.
Dosage
Children between the ages of 4 to 8 years need 200 mcg of folic acid daily; this increases to 300 mcg between 9 and 13 years of age. During teenage years and as an adult, you require 400 mcg of folic acid. One chewable Flintstones Complete vitamin provides 400 mcg of folic acid.
Toxicity of Folic Acid
Because folic acid is water-soluble, any amount that is not absorbed right away is excreted through urine, giving it a low risk of toxicity. Ingesting too much folic acid, however, may lead to seizures if you take anti-convulsant medications, says the Office of Dietary Supplements. High intakes of folic acid can also mask an underlying B-12 deficiency, which you may be unaware of having. Avoid adverse effects by limiting your child's folic acid intake to less than 800 mcg per day, the amount in two Flintstones vitamins. Adults can safely ingest as much as 1,000 mcg, which is about two-and-a-half Flintstones vitamins.
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