What is folic acid?
Folic acid is a synthetic, water-soluble vitamin used in supplements and fortified foods.
It’s a man-made version of folate, a naturally occurring B vitamin found in many foods. Your body can’t make folate, so it must be obtained through dietary intake. Folate is found in a number of plant and animal foods, including spinach, kale, broccoli, avocado, citrus fruits, eggs, and beef liver.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF FOILC ACID:
1 One of the most common uses of folic acid and folate supplements is the prevention of birth defects, specifically neural tube defects, including spina bifida and anencephaly — when a baby is born without parts of its brain or skull (7).
Maternal folate status is a predictor of neural tube defect risk, which has led to national public health policies regarding folic acid supplementation for women who are or may become pregnant.
2 REsearch has shown that low blood folate levels are associated with poor brain function and an increased risk of dementia. Even normal but low folate levels are associated with an increased risk of mental impairment in older adults.
Studies have demonstrated that folic acid supplements may improve brain function in those with mental impairment and help treat Alzheimer’s disease.
3. Adjunctive treatment of mental health disorders
People with depression have been shown to have lower blood levels of folate than people without depression (15Trusted Source).
Studies show that folic acid and folate supplements may reduce depressive symptoms when used in conjunction with antidepressant medications.
4. Reduction of heart disease risk factors
Supplementing with folate-based supplements, including folic acid, may help improve heart health and reduce your risk of heart disease risk factors.
Having elevated levels of the amino acid homocysteine is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease. Blood levels of homocysteine are determined by both nutritional and genetic factors.
5. Diabetes. Folate-based supplements may help improve blood sugar control, reduce insulin resistance, and enhance cardiovascular function in those with diabetes.
