Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that belongs to the family of B-vitamins. The natural form of folic acid, termed folate, was identified in the late 1930s from yeast extract as the ingredient that can prevent anemia during pregnancy. It was given the name folate, derived from the Latin word "folium" for leaf, because leafy green vegetables are excellent sources of this vitamin. Folate and folic acid are involved in gene repair, cell division and maintaining the level of homocysteine, an amino acid in the blood.
Folic Acid and the Blood Vessels
Folic acid is involved in at least two aspects of blood vessel health. On one hand, folic acid supplementation has been shown to improve endothelial cell function, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements in the National Institutes of Health. Endothelial cells are cells lining the blood vessel walls that maintain the integrity of the vessels and help to regulate blood pressure. On the other hand, folic acid lowers the level of homocysteine in the blood. Homocysteine is naturally present in the blood but high levels of homocysteine are associated with increased risk of stroke and coronary heart disease. High homocysteine damages the blood vessels, and increases the risk of blood clotting, a risk factor for heart attacks.
Folic Acid and Blood Pressure
Folic acid may be beneficial in lowering blood pressure and resulting complications. In a study conducted by Harvard Medical School and published in JAMA in 2005, young women who took more than 1 mg per day of folic acid were found to be 46 percent less likely to develop hypertension than women who consumed less than 0.2 mg a day. A review by MayoClinic.com found that a combination therapy that includes folate prevents premature delivery in pregnant women with high blood pressure.
May Prevent Heart Diseases and Hypertension
The Food and Drug Administration mandated the addition of folic acid to all enriched grain products starting in 1998. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistic showed that the fortification has been successful in improving the folate status in the U.S. population. Accompanying this improvement is the lowering of homocysteine level in the blood, according to the Office of Dietary Supplement. However, whether this translates into a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension is yet to be demonstrated. Clinical studies have not shown that folic acid supplements reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases or hypertension.
Folate Intake
Both the blood and blood vessels require adequate folate status. Although it is best to obtain folate from foods, it is often difficult to get enough folate through diet alone, especially for women of child-bearing age. Folic acid fortification in grain products have helped to lower the prevalence of low folate status to less than 1 percent of the U.S. population, according to the CDC statics. Choose folic acid-fortified products and folate-rich foods such as leafy greens and legumes to maintain healthy folate status for your blood vessels and blood pressure. However, keep in mind that too much folic acid can trigger the symptoms of B-12 deficiency including neurological damage. Because of this, the Institute of Medicine recommends folic acid supplementation, which includes the intake from fortified foods, not to exceed 1,000 mcg a day. There is no such risk associated with folate found naturally in foods.
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