About Folic Acid
Monday, June 13th, 2011Vitamin B9, Folic Acid (Folate) is a water-soluble B vitamin that takes its name from the Latin word for leaf, folium, because it was first isolated from spinach leaves.
Folic Acid helps maintain healthy hair, nails and skin. It may aid in preventing hair loss.
Along with Pantothenic acid, may delay graying of hair.
It is necessary for DNA & RNA synthesis, which is essential for the growth and reproduction of all body cells
It is essential to the formation of red blood cells by its action on the bone marrow and aids in amino acid metabolism
Folic Acid is crucial for methylation in the body.
Biochemically, folic acid functions as a methyl donor after being enzymatically reduced to tetrahydrofolate by the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase. This biochemical reaction is the target of a number of chemotherapeutic antimetabolites such as methotrexate that bind to the enzyme and prevent the reduction.
Folic acid promotes normal red blood cell formation, helps to maintain the central nervous system, and promotes normal growth and development. Recent investigations show that folic acid deficiency may be responsible for neural tube defects, a type of birth defect that results in severe brain or neurological disorders (see Spina Bifida).
The U.S. Public Health Service recommends that women of child-bearing age take 0.4 mg of folic acid daily. Women should continue to take that dose through the first three months of pregnancy. The RDA for men is 400 mcg and women is 200 mcg.
Folic acid is effective in the treatment of certain anemias and sprue.
Folic acid is found in Brewer’s yeast, liver, fruits, leafy vegetables, oranges, rice, soybeans, and wheat, organ meats, leafy green vegetables, legumes, nuts, whole grains.