Folic acid

Also called folate, folic acid is a water-soluble B group vitamin essential for the synthesis of genetic material, red blood cells and protein metabolism.

Folic acid is helpful in promoting fertility, protecting the heart and as an anti-cancer agent.

Deficiency:

Many people do not eat enough folic-acid containing foods, and cooking and over-processing of foods can destroy their folic acid content. This is why folic acid is often added to products such as bread and cereals, to ‘fortify’ them.

Those particularly susceptible to folic acid deficiency include pregnant women, adolescent girls and newborn infants (due to the rapid growth associated with these life stages). Low levels specifically affect bone marrow resulting in magaloblastic anaemia. New analysis has also confirmed a link between low folic acid levels and depression.

Sources:

Folic acid can be found in a variety of foods including green leafy vegetables, asparagus, beans, kelp, soybeans, oranges, strawberries, liver (beef), lentils, rice and brewer’s yeast.

Did u know?

The name ‘folate’ is derived from the Latin word folium meaning leaf, because of its firs extraction from spinach leaves.