Many people are beginning to recognize the benefits of folic acid, which, is also known as Vitamin B9, Pteroylglutamic Acid, Folate, or Folacin. A vitamin of the B complex group, folic acid is essential for the metabolic processes happening in our bodies. Both Canada and the USA mandated in 1998 that cereals and breads be fortified with folic acid at a dose of 140 micrograms/100 g.

Researches following the change found an 18% reduction in stroke death victims on average, as well as a reduction in certain fetal abnormalities. Folic acid lowers the concentration of homocysteine in the blood, which is why researchers believe it reduces the risk of stroke. The risk of cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and depression can also be decreased by an adequate intake of folic acid.

Folic acid is necessary for both red and white blood cells to form, and to mature. People develop folic-acid-deficiency anemia when levels become deficient. Those most likely to have a deficiency are the elderly, the poor, alcoholics, and pregnant women. Typical symptoms of folic acid deficiency are fatigue, weakness, apathy, headaches, irregular heartbeat, and sore tongue, diarrhea, and lack of appetite, weight loss, irritability, and forgetfulness.

Foods rich in folic acid are leafy green vegetables, beans, peas and lentils, liver, beets, brussel sprouts, oranges, asparagus, broccoli, spinach, bananas, strawberries, cantaloupes, and yeast. Cooked vegetables and fruits contain folic acid, but some is lost in the process.

Any woman considering pregnancy should begin taking folic acid before becoming pregnant if possible. A woman taking 0.4 mg per day can reduce her chances of having a baby with spina bifida or anencephaly by possibly 70 percent. She can reduce her risk of giving birth to a child with orofacial clefts by as much as 50 percent.

There is no known toxic level of Folic acid. However, women shouldn’t consume more than 1,000 micrograms of synthetic folic acid a day. Amount in excess may hide a vitamin B-12 deficiency, pernicious anemia that can be masked by high levels of folic acid.

RDA 200 ug/day; 400 ug during pregnancy;
280 ug during lactation
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