Each week, we identify a top search term, speculate on the causes of its popularity, and provide an infographic on a related condition. If you have any thoughts on what’s trending and why, share them with us on Twitter Or Facebook.
The rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations and coronavirus mutations remain among clinicians’ top concerns, but online misinformation about a commonly used supplement has made folic acid this week’s top trending clinical topic. Folic acid is among the best studied and most widely approved nutritional supplement intended for women of childbearing age. It is an essential tool in preventing neural tube defects in unborn babies. However, various groups have begun promoting poorly substantiated reports claiming that folic acid is dangerous for women with common variations of a gene called MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase).
Genetics experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that daily intake of folic acid in women is helpful in preventing neural tube defects in children. besides the fact that MTHFR genotype (see infographic below). No clinical recommendations have been made regarding the testing of MTHFR status or consuming different amounts of folate or folic acid depending on genotype, despite extensive investigations.
Experts have expressed concern that misinformation could lead women to avoid appropriate supplementation. In the United States alone, fortification prevents approximately 1,300 neural tube defects to occur. A recent study In BMJ Global Health found that weekly supplements containing 2.8 mg of folic acid were safe and more effective in getting folate into red blood cells and preventing neural tube defects than supplements containing only 0.4 mg of folic acid.
Folic acid has been shown to help with other conditions as well. A recent study revealed this high consumption was associated with a significant reduction in the risk of colorectal cancer. Folate deficiency also has been associated with elevated homocysteine levels, a known marker of increased risk of arteriosclerosis. Evidence has also shown that folic acid supplementation can improve cognitive function, prevent strokesand reduce the incidence of autism And birth defects associated with diabetes as well as the risk of childhood leukemia. High-dose folic acid is also being considered as a potential treatment for pulmonary hypertension associated with COVID-19 pneumonia.
Experts, including those from the CDC, are working to refute and discredit misinformation concerning MTHFR variations and folic acid supplementation, as well as other ill-founded claims against well-studied vitamin. As the controversy continues, folic acid will likely remain a hot clinical topic.
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All opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of WebMD or Medscape.
Quote this: Ryan Syrek. Trending clinical topic: Folic acid – Medical landscape – January 15, 2021.
