Found in: Vitamin B | Brain Nutrition | Vitamin B-12 | Pregnancy Support | Seniors

Folic acid (vitamin B-9) is necessary for proper brain function, for the production of the body's genetic material, thus crucial during high growth periods of pregnancy, infancy and adolescence. It also works together with vitamin B12 to regulate the formation of red blood cells.

Folic acid deficiency is the most common B vitamin deficiency, as most food sources are poor in folic acid. Folic acid deficiency can cause poor growth, shortness of breath, diarrhea, irritability, forgetfulness, and mental sluggishness, among others. Most notably, pregnancy can put a woman at risk for folic acid deficiency as the fetus easily depletes a mother's nutrient reserves, which, in turn, is known to lead to birth defects.

Folate's potential to reduce the risk of neural tube defects is so important that the Food and Drug Administration requires food manufacturers to fortify enriched grain products with folic acid. Since the neural tube defects can occur in an embryo before a woman realizes she's pregnant, it's important for all women of childbearing age (15 to 45) to include folate in their diets.

Vitamins folic acid, B12 and B6 work together to regulate blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine. Elevated levels of homocysteine are investigated for being a precursor to heart disease, stroke and, possibly, depression and Alzheimer's disease.

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