Folic Acid Deficiency

Excerpt

Folate is an essential water-soluble vitamin, naturally present in food, especially in fruits, green leafy vegetables, and liver. Folic acid is the synthesized form of folate present in fortified foods and supplements and has a higher bioavailability than naturally occurring folate. Folate has been added to grains in the United States to prevent congenital disabilities, especially neural tube defects, as it is necessary for the formation of several coenzymes in many metabolic systems, particularly for purine and pyrimidine synthesis, nucleoprotein synthesis, and maintenance in erythropoiesis. Folate like vitamin B12 is a provider of 1-carbon residues for DNA and RNA synthesis. The potent form of folic acid is tetrahydrofolate. Some of the latest research reveals the following about folic acid deficiency:

1. There may be a link between elevated homocysteine (a marker for an increased risk for arteriosclerosis) and folate deficiency.

2. A lowering of the risk of stroke but not adverse cardiac event when hyperhomocysteinemia is corrected with folic acid

3. Reduction in the incidence of neural tube defects with folic acid supplementation during pregnancy.

4. Lack of folic acid during pregnancy may increase the risk of diabetes-associated congenital disabilities and autism.

5. Maternal folic acid during pregnancy may lower the risk of childhood leukemia.

6. Folic acid supplementation may increase the risk of cancer.