Questão 22

Read the text carefully.

    Folic acid is the man-made form of folate. Folate is found naturally $\in$ certain fruits, vegetables and nuts. Folic acid is found $\in$ vitamins and fortified foods. Both are different forms of vitamin B9.

    Folic acid and folate help the body make healthy new red blood cells. 5 Red blood cells carry oxygen to all the parts of your body. If your body does not make enough red blood cells, you can develop anemia. Anemia happens when your blood cannot carry enough oxygen to your body, which makes you pale, tired, or weak. Also, if you do not get enough folic acid, you could develop a type of anemia called folate-deficiency anemia.

² Everyone needs folic acid to be healthy. But it is especially important for women:

    Before and during pregnancy. Folic acid protects unborn children against serious birth defects called neural tube defects. These birth defects happen $\in$ the first few weeks of pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. ³ Folic acid might also help prevent other types of birth defects and early pregnancy loss (miscarriage). Since about half of all pregnancies $\in$ the United States are unplanned, experts recommend all women get enough folic acid even if you are not trying to get pregnant.

    To keep the blood healthy by helping red blood cells form and grow. Not getting enough folic acid can lead to a type of anemia called folate-deficiency anemia. Folate-deficiency anemia is more common $\in$ women of childbearing age than $\in$ men.

     You can get folic acid $\in$ two ways.

     Through the foods you eat. Folate is found naturally $\in$ some foods, including spinach, nuts, and beans. Folic acid is found $\in$ fortified foods (called "enriched foods"), such as breads, pastas, and cereals. Look for the term "enriched" on the ingredients list to find out whether the food has added folic acid.

     As a vitamin. Most multivitamins sold $\in$ the United States contain 400 micrograms, or 100% of the daily value, of folic acid. Check the label to make sure.

      ¹If you do not get enough folic acid before and during pregnancy, your baby is at higher risk for neural tube defects.

     Neural tube defects are serious birth defects that affect the spine, spinal cord, or brain and may cause death. These include:

     Spina bifida. This condition happens when an unborn baby's spinal column does not fully close during development $\in$ the womb, leaving the spinal cord exposed. As a result, the nerves that control the legs and other organs do not work. Children with spina bifida often have lifelong disabilities. ⁴ They may also need many surgeries.

     Anencephaly. This means that most or all of the brain and skull does not develop $\in$ the womb. Almost all babies with this condition die before or soon after birth.[…]

Retrieved from: . Access: 27/05/2019 (adapted).

Based on questions and answers about Folic Acid, choose the alternative $\in$ which there are only correct propositions.

I. Folate and folic acid are forms of vitamin. Folate occurs naturally $\in$ food, and folic acid is the synthetic form of this vitamin.

II. Folate vitamin is used for preventing and treating low blood levels of folic acid, as well as its complications, including the lack of blood cells.

III. Women who are pregnant or might become pregnant take folic acid to prevent miscarriage and “neural tube defects,” birth defects such as spina bifida or anencephaly.

Mark the correct alternative.