Folate is a B vitamin you can obtain from foods such as leafy green vegetables, fruits and dried beans and peas. A synthetic form of folate called folic acid is available in supplements and added to fortified grain products. MedlinePlus, a website provided by the National Library of Medicine, uses the terms interchangeably. Consuming enough folic acid has specific advantages that are essential for health.
Anemia Prevention
Folic acid is essential for the formation of normal red blood cells. Without adequate intake of this vitamin, you become at risk for anemia, which develops when red blood cells have a low level of hemoglobin. Without sufficient hemoglobin, red blood cells cannot transport enough oxygen to cells and tissues. This can lead to fatigue and weakness.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Babies born to women with inadequate folic acid intake before and during pregnancy have a greater risk of major birth defects. These neural tube defects can cause serious malformations of the skull and brain, as well as spina bifida, a disorder in which the spine and back do not close during development. In addition, women who are deficient in folic acid when they become pregnant are more likely to have miscarriages, premature babies or babies with low birth weight. Folic acid helps generate and maintain new cells, which is essential for a developing baby both during and after pregnancy, so breastfeeding mothers also need sufficient amounts of this vitamin.
Homocysteine Regulation
Folic acid and folate help regulate blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine. A high homocysteine blood level is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Excess homocysteine may cause blood vessel problems that hinder blood flow and facilitate clot formation. Despite the connections between folic acid and homocysteine regulation and between homocysteine elevation and cardiovascular disorders, it is too early to assume that folic acid supplements can prevent heart disease until research confirms this, cautions the Office of Dietary Supplements.
Lowering Cancer Risk
Folate is important for the construction, function and repair of DNA. Sufficient intake of folic acid helps prevent changes in DNA that may cause cancer, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. The Office of Dietary Supplements also reports some evidence links low blood levels of this vitamin to a higher risk of cancer.
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