Is Folic Acid Good For Immunity?

The B-complex vitamin folate occurs naturally in food, and a synthetic form called folic acid is available in supplements. The nutrient is important for the function of certain white blood cells, which are major components of the immune system. Consult a qualified health care provider before taking folic acid supplements.

Folate and Folic Acid

Folate is essential for the production of DNA and RNA and new cells, and it helps prevent alterations in DNA that could cause cancer, explains the Office of Dietary Supplements. You can obtain folate by eating foods such as leafy green vegetables, dried beans and peas, fruit and liver. Folic acid is available in multivitamins and vitamin B supplements and is also added to fortified cereals, breads, pasta and other grain products. The Food and Nutrition Board has set the recommended dietary allowance for people age 14 and over at 400 mcg per day. Because folate has a vital role in the production of red blood cells, some people who are deficient in this nutrient become anemic and need folic acid supplements. The tolerable upper intake level of folic acid for people ages 14 to 18 is 800 mcg per day; for people 19 and over, it is 1 mg per day.

Immune System

The immune system keeps viruses, certain types of bacteria and other infectious microorganisms out of the body and destroys those that do enter. It also provides immunity against infectious microorganisms the body has previously encountered. Many organs are involved in the immune system, including the bone marrow, tonsils, thymus and spleen. The bone marrow produces lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that fight infection. Folic acid is important for the function of T-lymphocytes, or those that mature in the thymus.

Folate and T-Lymphocyte Function

An article published in a 1991 issue of "Progress in Food and Nutrition Science" explains that folate deficiency lowers T- lymphocyte response to chemicals that normally trigger cell division to produce more of these white blood cells that fight infection by killing pathogens. This change to the immune system can lead to a lowered resistance to infections, which the authors note is a common occurrence in people and animals with folate deficiency.

Folic Acid and Immune System Proteins

A study published in the April 5, 2010, issue of the "Journal of Proteome Research" found that participants with low plasma folate levels also had a lower level of proteins involved in immune function. Supplementing with 1.2 mg of folic acid daily for 12 weeks increased the level of these proteins.

Folic Acid and Allergens

After reviewing medical records of more than 8,000 people ranging in age from 2 to 85, researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center found that those with greater folate blood levels reported fewer allergies and had a lower incidence of asthma, according to a 2009 press release. Lead investigator Elizabeth Matsui, M.D., said the results indicate that folic acid may regulate immune response to allergens but cautioned that more research is needed to determine whether folic acid supplements can prevent or treat allergies or asthma.