Scientists from the University of California, Davis found that people who take high doses of folic acid have a significantly higher risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19. The study was published in the journal BMJ Open.
The authors used medical records from more than 380,000 Britons aged 45 and over. Of the more than 26,000 patients infected with the coronavirus, 820 have died. Patients prescribed high doses of folic acid (5 times the legal limit) had a 1.5 times greater risk of contracting coronavirus and a 2.6 times greater risk of death compared to the control group. The blood folic acid levels of the participants in this study were not measured.
Doctors also found that taking methotrexate, a drug that lowers folic acid levels, does not pose additional risks for COVID patients.
The scientists’ findings may have implications for patients taking folic acid. Although its use has been clearly indicated in some cases, physicians still need to be cautious when prescribing high doses. The safe upper limit for folic acid is 1 milligram.
Another study, published in Nature Communications in 2021, found that the SARS-CoV-2 virus uses human folic acid to reproduce. This means that the virus may be susceptible to both folic acid and its inhibitors, including methotrexate. The findings of this study prompted the authors to test the relationship between folic acid intake and clinical outcomes in COVID.
Low folic acid levels in pregnant women are associated with an increased risk of birth defects in infants. Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9, is prescribed for a number of conditions, including sickle cell anemia and people taking anticonvulsants. Some patients taking methotrexate, a drug used to treat certain cancers and autoimmune diseases, also take folic acid to reduce side effects.
Source: Gazeta
Christina Moncayo is a contributing writer for “Social Bites”. Her focus is on the gaming industry and she provides in-depth coverage of the latest news and trends in the world of gaming.