Folic acid is beneficial to your immune system. According to a review published in "Progress in Food & Nutrition Science" in 1991, folic acid deficiency has a negative effect on your body's immune response. Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that helps your body produce DNA and RNA. DNA and RNA are essential for the growth and production of cells such as white blood cells that are integral to your immune system.
Dose
Taking the recommended dietary allowance, or RDA, of folic acid ensures your immune system continues to function at optimal levels. The RDA for folic acid varies according to age. Infants less than 6 months old need about 65 mcg of folic acid daily, while those that are 7 months to 1 year old need 80 mcg. Children between 1 and 3 years of age need 150 mcg of folic acid each day. This RDA increases to 200 mcg between the ages of 4 and 8. When children reach the ages of 9 to 13, they need 300 mcg of folic acid daily. People 14 years of age and above need 400 mcg of folic acid. Pregnant women need 600 mcg of folic acid, while breastfeeding women need about 500 mcg daily.
Immune System
The immune system is your body's natural defense system that protects you from infections and pathogenic substances. Your immune response refers to the collective set of steps your immune system takes to protect you. White blood cells, or leukocytes, are cells your immune system uses to attack infections. The two types of leukocytes are phagocytes and lymphocytes. Phagocytes destroy invading organisms. Lymphocytes are further divided into two types, B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. B lymphocytes identify invading substances, or antigens, while T lymphocytes seek out and destroy them. B lymphocytes identify and tag antigens through the use of antibodies.
Folic Acid and Immune Response
Folic acid deficiency reduces the ability of B lymphocytes to secrete antibodies necessary to identify antigens, according to the "Progress in Food & Nutrition Science" review. Folic acid deficiency also decreases your T lymphocytes' ability to destroy potential threats. The review suggests that your overall ability to resist infections decreases when you do not receive adequate amounts of folic acid.
A study published in the April 2010 issue of "Journal of Proteome Research" discovered that low folate levels decrease your levels of proteins involved in immune response. The study collected blood plasma samples from people who were treated with either a placebo or 1.2 mg of folic acid daily for 12 weeks during a randomized controlled trial. The researchers then measured homocysteine and folate levels and found that folic acid supplements helped strengthen the immune system of the test subjects involved.
Folic Acid and Allergic Response
Folic acid may help ameliorate your response to allergens, according to a study published in "The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology" in June 2009. Conducted by the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, the study determined that people with folate levels below 8 ng/mL were 40 percent more likely to have wheezing problems than those with folate levels higher than 18 ng/mL. Elevated IgE antibodies are signs of allergic predisposition. People with folate levels that were less than 8 ng/mL were 30 percent more likely to have elevated IgE antibodies than people with folate levels above 18 ng/mL. People with folate levels below 8 ng/mL were 16 percent more likely to be asthmatic than people with folate levels exceeding 18 ng/mL.
References
- Johns Hopkins Children's Center; Folic Acid May Help Treat Allergies, Asthma; Ekaterina Pesheva; April 2009
- "Journal of Proteome Research"; Blood Folate Status and Expression of Proteins Involved in Immune Function, Inflammation, and Coagulation; S.J. Duthie, et al.; April 2010
- KidsHealth: Immune System
- "Progress in Food & Nutrition Science"; Folate Status and the Immune System; A. Dhur, et al.; 1991
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid)
- "The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology"; Higher Serum Folate Levels Are Associated With a Lower Risk of Atopy and Wheeze; E.C. Matsui, et al.; June 2009
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