What Are Folic-acid Pills For?

Folic acid is a manmade version of the naturally occurring folate. It works with vitamins C and B-12 in helping your body use, break down and form new proteins. It also helps your body create DNA and red blood cells, helps tissues grow and helps cells function properly. Your doctor may recommend that you take a folic-acid supplement if you don't eat enough folate-rich foods to support your health needs.

Healthy Pregnancy

If you're pregnant or capable of becoming pregnant, you should be taking a folic acid supplement each day to reduce your risk of giving birth to a baby with birth defects. By consuming folic acid daily in the month before you conceive and in the first trimester of a pregnancy, you may lower your baby's risk of having neural-tube defects by about 50 to 70 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Neural-tube defects lead to conditions such as spina bifida. Taking folic acid may also lower your baby's chances of developing a cleft lip and heart defects.

Deficiencies

You may need to take folic acid supplements if you are at risk of developing a folate deficiency. You may be at heightened risk if you regularly consume large amounts of alcohol, if you have liver disease and if you undergo kidney dialysis. Weight loss, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weakness, irritability, anemia and poor growth in children may occur as a result of a folate deficiency.

Possible Cancer Prevention

Cancers of the colon, breast and pancreas have been linked to folate deficiency. This could be because low levels of folate in the body may lead to DNA damage, according to MedlinePlus. Still, more research is needed to determine whether taking folic acid supplements or eating a folate-rich diet could truly reduce your risk of cancer.

Heart Health

Having too much of the amino acid homocysteine in your blood can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. This may be because the amino acid damages the lining of the arteries and promotes the formation of blood clots. Taking folic acid supplements may help break down the amino acid and lower your health risk, but no controlled study has actually proven this to be true. Furthermore, no study has shown how much folic acid you would need to take to reduce your risk. Still, the American Heart Association recommends taking in plenty of folate from dietary sources.

Considerations

You may get enough folate in your diet by eating foods such as leafy green vegetables, asparagus, fruits, beans, mushrooms and orange juice. However, ask your doctor whether she thinks you should take a folic acid supplement. If she thinks you would benefit from a supplement, she will likely suggest that you take about 400 mcg per day, though she may recommend more if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Don't take more than she recommends. Potential side effects of an overdose include abdominal cramping, diarrhea, confusion, irritability, skin reactions and seizures.