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 Folic acid, or folate, is a B complex vitamin (also known as Vitamin B9) used by the body to produce red blood cells. These complex vitamins are necessary to correctly metabolize proteins and fats and help to maintain the digestive tract, skin, hair, nervous system, muscles, and other tissues in the body. Folic acid assists in producing RNA and DNA and is essential in periods of rapid growth such as pregnancy, adolescence, and infancy. Working alongside vitamin B12, folic acid helps control the production of red blood cells and helps iron work correctly in the body. Anemia can be onset by deficiency of this vitamin.
Folic acid can be found in high levels in certain plants. Most Americans, however, do not eat enough of these plants to get the necessary amounts of folic acid, potentially leading to folic acid deficiency. Those with celiac disease, alcoholism, or irritable bowel syndrome are at high risk of folic acid deficiency, which can pave the way for numerous other health problems.
Pregnancy causes an extremely high risk of folic acid deficiency. The fetus quickly uses the mother’s supply of folic acid which can potentially cause a number of health problems including neural tube birth defects in babies.
Folic acid also helps to control blood levels of homocysteine. High levels of homocysteine in the blood can lead to various diseases such as heart disease. Certain B vitamins, including folic acid, work with enzymes to lower homocysteine levels. Folic acid is apparently the most important of all B vitamins in lowering homocysteine levels and supplementation aids in the reduction of these levels. Diseases such as coronary artery disease and peripheral vascular disease have been linked to folic acid deficiencies in those with regular levels of homocysteine. This suggests that folic acid may have preventative effects beyond regulating levels of homocysteine.
Folic acid has been used to treat those with the following conditions:
- Birth defects prevention
- Depression
- Gingivitis (periodontal disease) (rinse only)
- High homocysteine (in combination with vitamin B6 and vitamin B12)
- Pap smear (abnormal) (in women taking oral contraceptives)
- Pregnancy and postpartum support
- Schizophrenia (for deficiency)
Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) Deficiency
Most people do not intake necessary amounts of folic acid. Elevated levels of homocysteine are often discovered in those with heart disease. These levels could be maintained by taking supplements. A large number of people have slight folic acid deficiencies in Western countries. It is estimated that close to 13,500 deaths from cardiovascular diseases could be prevented annually by increasing intake of folic acid.
Those taking birth control, suffering from malabsorbtion disorders, liver disease, and alcoholics often have folic acid deficiency. Deficiency has also been commonly found in elderly people suffering from hearing loss. Folic acid can be interfered by certain prescription drugs such as antacids, triamterene, anticonvulsants, cimetidine, anticancer drugs, and sulfasalazine.
Recommended Dosage
400 mcg of folic acid should be taken daily by pregnant women or those who could become pregnant to reduce birth defect risks. Doctors sometimes recommend these dosages to reduce the risk of heart disease. Because the FDA required grains to be fortified with folic acid, people who regularly eat grains only need 100 mcg of folic acid supplementation each day. However, this low level of supplementation often does not maintain high enough levels of folic acid in the body. Pregnant women should supplement with 300-400 mcg daily to prevent folate deficiency.
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