Overview
Folic acids are a form of water-soluble B vitamin and are the synthetic form of folate, which comes in foods naturally. Persons whose levels of folate are too low [folate deficiency] and have high levels of homocysteine [hyperhomocysteinemia] [1] usually treated with folic acid. Pregnant women also take folic acid to avoid miscarriages and birth defects. Other health conditions like stroke, high blood pressure, memory loss, depression among others, are also treated with folic acid. Most times, folic acid isn’t used alone instead it is combined with other B vitamins.
Folic acid is important because it is needed for the body to properly develop. It also helps in the production of DNA and other genetic materials. It is advised that adults consume at least 400 mcg of folate [2] every day to prevent a deficiency of it in the body.