Folate and folic acid are forms of a water soluble B vitamin. Folate occurs naturally in food and folic acid is the synthetic form of this vitamin. Folic acid also referred to as vitamin B9 or vitamin M. Folic acid or folacin word came from the Latin word folium means leaf. Folic acid is abundantly found in green leafy vegetables. It is important for one carbon metabolism and is required for the synthesis of certain amino acids, purines and the pyrimidine-thymine. The active form of folic acid is tetrahydrofolate.
Folic acid helps protect against a number of congenital malformations, including neural tube defects. Neural tube defects are severe abnormalities of the central nervous system that develop in embryos during the first few weeks of pregnancy resulting in malformations of the spine, skull and brain. Most common neural tube defects are spina bifida and ancephaly. Folic acid reduce the risk of congenital heart defects, cleft lip, limb defects and urinary tract anomalies. Folic acid deficiency increase the risk of preterm delivery, infant low birth weight and fetal growth retardation.
Folic acid reduces the pregnancy complications such as placental abruption and pre-eclamplasia. Folic acid supplements may also protect the fetus against disease when the mother is battling a disease or taking medication or smoking during pregnancy.
Dark green vegetables are good sources of folic acid. Folic acid content decreases due to over cooking.
Folic acid deficiency is probably the most common vitamin deficiency, observed primarily in the pregnant women, in both developed and developing countries.
To treat folic acid deficiency anemia, your doctor will usually prescribe daily folic acid tablets to build up your folate levels. The doctor may also give you dietary advice so you can increase your folate intake. Folic acid is frequently combined with other B vitamins in supplements. Alcohol intake should be decreased and completely eliminated for pregnant women. People who take medications known to cause folic acid deficiency should take supplements as well on doctors advice.