Folic acid

Question 1

what is it converted to and what does this have a role in?

Answer 1

tetrahydrofolate

a key role in the transfer of 1-carbon units

to the essential substrates involved in the synthesis of DNA & RNA

Question 2

causes of folic acid deficiency

Answer 2

phenytoin
methotrexate
pregnancy
alcohol excess

Question 3

consequences of folic acid deficiency

Answer 3

macrocytic, megaloblastic anaemia
neural tube defects

Question 4

prevention of neural tube defects in pregnancy

Answer 4

all women should take 400mcg of folic acid until the 12th week of pregnancy

women at higher risk of conceiving a child with a NTD should take 5mg of folic acid from before conception until the 12th week of pregnancy

Question 5

which women are considered high risk for NTD?

Answer 5

either partner has a NTD, they have had a previous pregnancy affected by a NTD, or they have a family history of a NTD

the woman is taking antiepileptic drugs or has coeliac disease, diabetes, or thalassaemia trait.

the woman is obese (defined as a body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or more)