Folic Acid

Folic acid is a member of the water soluble B vitamin family, it is also known as folacin or folate. Its name is derived from the Latin word folium which means foliage. It was first discovered in the ‘40’s when it was extracted from spinach. It should be replenished daily due to the fact that the body cannot store it for long periods of time. Folic acid is of particular importance for women of childbearing age as there can be serious consequences for the fetus when folic acids levels are too low. These consequences include a higher risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida. Low folic acid levels are linked to an increased risk of heart disease through an increase in homocysteine. Folic acid deficiency is the most common vitamin deficiency in the world. Half of the folic acid in foods is depleted through cooking, processing and long-term storage, thus supplementation of this vital nutrient is highly recommended. Our Folic Acid is available in 800 mcg vegetarian tablets.