Folic acid is one of the B vitamins which is essential for the formation of new cells as well as the formation of DNA. The natural form is known as folate and is found in foods such as leafy green vegetables, asparagus, lentils, yeast, mushrooms, organ meats, bananas, melons, lemons, orange juice and tomato juice. Most people do not get adequate amounts of folate from foods sources, and the body does not assimilate the natural form as readily as folic acid, which is the manmade form.

The most well known use of folic acid as a supplement is in women who are trying to get pregnant and in pregnant women. Folic acid is documented as a safeguard against neural tube defects which occur very early in prenatal development. The risk of neural tube defects is reduced by 50 to 75 percent in women who take at least 400 micrograms of folic acid daily for at least one month before conception and throughout the first trimester of pregnancy.

Women who have sufficient intake of folic acid and folate also have significantly reduced risk of developing high blood pressure later in life. It is believed that folic acid reduces the risk of high blood pressure by causing blood vessels to relax, thus improving circulation.

Folic acid is used in treating folic acid deficiency, poor intestinal nutrient absorption, ulcerative colitis, liver disease, alcoholism, and end-stage kidney disease. It is also used to treat anemia and heart disease, memory loss, vitiligo, nerve pain, muscle pain, depression, age-related hearing loss, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis and restless legs syndrome. It is also used topically to treat gum infections and gum disease. Additionally, folic acid can be used in a preventative manner for age-related macular degeneration, colon cancer, and cervical cancer.

There are some side effects associated with high doses of folic acid, such as diarrhea, stomach upset, abdominal cramps, irritability, excitability, nausea, gas, behavior changes, skin reactions, rashes and pernicious anemia. A safe daily dosage of folic acid for most people is 400 micrograms per day.