Folic acid in diet
Alternate Names : Vitamin B9, Folate in diet, Diet - folic acid, Diet - folate, Pteroylglutamic acid
Definition
Folic acid is a type of B vitamin. It is water-soluble. Water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water. Leftover amounts of the vitamin leave the body through the urine. That means you need a continuous supply of the vitamin in your diet.
Overview & Functions
Folic acid works along with vitamin B12 and vitamin C to help the body break down, use, and create new proteins. The vitamin helps form red blood cells and helps produce DNA, the building block of the human body, which carries genetic information. Folic acid also helps tissues grow and cells work. Taking the right amount of folic acid before and during pregnancy helps prevent certain birth defects, including spina bifida.
See: Folic acid and birth defect prevention Folic acid supplements may also be used to treat folic acid deficiency, certain menstrual problems, and leg ulcers.
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