The Need for Folic Acid: Vitamins Required?

The substance known to most people as folic acid is actually Vitamin B9, a water soluble vitamin. Water soluble vitamins are easily depleted from the body’s supply. So when you need to consume more folic acid, vitamins from the B group is all you have to add to your diet, or supplements.
Of all the B Vitamins, folic acid is the most commonly found to be lacking. Yet it is very common, found in foods like beetroot, asparagus, whole grains, and root vegetables. Unfortunately, the average diet does not include enough folic acid, and requires a supplement to be taken.

Folic acid is connected to a wide range of bodily functions. Symptoms of deficiency can range from stunted growth to shortness of breath, and concentration problems. It has also been connected to more serious conditions, including depression and birth defects.

Amongst other functions, it reduces cholesterol, and homocysteine levels, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke, while preventing damage to blood vessels. Sufficient levels of folic acid also prevent the development of nervous disorders, including dementia.

Folic acid also contributes to a healthy bone structure. Serious defects of the bone structure, like osteoporosis, can be avoided by combining folic acid, Vitamins B6 and B12.

Folic acid deficiency in pregnant women can cause serious complications for the baby, including neural tube problems, Spina Bifida (abnormalities in the spinal chord and surrounding tissue), and Encephalocele (a hole in the skull at birth). These defects can be crippling, or even fatal, yet they can be prevented by the pregnant mother simply taking enough folic acid, especially during the early stages of pregnancy. Taking enough folic acid can reduce the risk of birth defects by seventy to one hundred percent, and prevent miscarriage. However, excessive amounts may have some negative side effects as well, so consult with your physician to determine your requirements.

A lack of folic acid (vitamins) can have any of a wide range of side effects, imposing on the overall efficiency of the body’s functionality. It is recommended that women, and especially anemic patients, have themselves tested from time to time.