What is "folic acid"

vitamin Bc \vitamin Bc\ n. a B vitamin that is essential for cell growth and reproduction. Also called folic acid

Syn: vitamin M, folic acid, folacin, pteroylglutamic acid, pteroylmonoglutamic acid.

n. (context vitamin organic compound English) A polycyclic heterocyclic carboxylic acid, one of the vitamin B complex, essential for cell growth and reproduction

n. a B vitamin that is essential for cell growth and reproduction [syn: vitamin Bc, vitamin M, folate, folacin, pteroylglutamic acid, pteroylmonoglutamic acid]

Folic acid ( conjugate base folate) is a B vitamin. Folic acid is made and used in fortified foods and supplements on the theory that it is converted into folate. However, folic acid is an oxidized form, not significantly found in fresh natural foods. To be used it must be converted to tetrahydrofolate ( tetrahydrofolic acid) by dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). Increasing evidence suggests that this process may be slow in humans. Folate and folic acid derive their names from the Latin word folium, which means "leaf". Folates occur naturally in many foods and, among plants, are especially plentiful in dark green leafy vegetables.

Vitamin B is essential for numerous bodily functions. Humans cannot make folates; therefore, folic acid has to be supplied through the diet to meet their daily requirements. The human body needs folate to make DNA, repair DNA, and methylate DNA as well as to act as a cofactor in certain biological reactions. It is especially important in aiding rapid cell division and growth, such as in infancy and pregnancy. Children and adults both require folate to produce healthy red blood cells and prevent anemia.

A lack of dietary folates can lead to folate deficiency. A complete lack of dietary folate takes months before deficiency develops as normal individuals have about 500–20,000 micrograms (µg) of folate in body stores. This deficiency can result in health problems. During pregnancy deficiency increases the risk of neural tube defects in the baby—a birth defect affecting 300,000 (0.2%) births globally each year and 3,000 pregnancies in the United States each year. Common symptoms of folate deficiency include diarrhea, macrocytic anemia with weakness or shortness of breath, nerve damage with weakness and limb numbness, pregnancy complications, mental confusion, forgetfulness or other cognitive deficits, mental depression, sore or swollen tongue, peptic or mouth ulcers, headaches, heart palpitations, irritability, and behavioral disorders. Low levels of folate can also lead to homocysteine accumulation. Low levels of folate have been associated with specific cancers. However, it is not clear whether consuming recommended (or higher) amounts of folic acid—from foods or in supplements—can lower cancer risk.