What are folic acid and vitamin B9?

Today I'd like to talk about folic acid.

What is folic acid (vitamin B9)?

It is one of the water-soluble vitamins and is sometimes called vitamin B9. It got this name because it is found in large amounts in green leaves such as spinach.

The function of folic acid

It plays an important role in synthesizing nucleic acids such as DNA, which are necessary for making proteins and cells.
For this reason, it plays important roles, such as helping to form red blood cells and contributing to the normal development of fetuses, where cell division is active .
Folic acid works with vitamin B12 to produce blood, so a deficiency can lead to a type of pernicious anemia called megaloblastic anemia. It has also been shown that if a woman takes in enough folic acid during early pregnancy, it can reduce the risk of neural tube defects in the fetus .
Furthermore, many research results have been reported recently showing that it can help prevent cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and myocardial infarction in adults.

What happens if you are deficient in folic acid?

It may cause anemia, fatigue, insomnia, weakened immune system, geographic tongue, glossitis, stomatitis, and may increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Foods High in Folic Acid

Folic acid is found in large amounts in liver, green vegetables, tomatoes, beans, etc. However, it is easily lost during cooking, so care must be taken.

Folic Acid Summary

As such, folic acid is a component that we should incorporate effectively into our daily lives, but especially those who are thinking about becoming pregnant or are in the early stages of pregnancy, be sure to take it consciously by taking supplements!