Folate, forms of which are known as folic acid and vitamin B9, is one of the B vitamins. Folic acid is used to treat anemia caused by folic acid deficiency. It is also used as a supplement by women during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects in the baby. More than 50 countries use fortification of certain foods with folic acid as a measure to decrease the rate of NTDs in the population. Long term supplementation is also associated with small reductions in the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.
| English Name | Folic acid |
| Other Name | Vitamin B9, vitamin Bc, vitamin M, folacin |
| CAS No. | 59-30-3 |
| EINECS No. | 200-419-0 |
| Molecular Formula | C19H19N7O6 |
As a coenzyme of a carbon unit transferase in human biochemical reactions, folic acid acts as a carbonunit
Folic acid can participate in the synthesis of purine and thymine, further synthesis of DNA and RNA
Participate in amino acid metabolism
Involved in the synthesis of hemoglobin and methyl compounds such as adrenaline, choline, creatine etc.
National Institutes of Health (US) nutritional requirements (µg DFE per day)
| Age | Infants (AI) | Infants (UL) | Adults (RDA) | Adults (UL) | Pregnant women (RDA) | Pregnant women (UL) | Lactating women (RDA) | Lactating women (UL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–6 months | 65 | None set | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 7–12 months | 80 | None set | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1–3 years | - | - | 150 | 300 | - | - | - | - |
| 4–8 years | - | - | 200 | 400 | - | - | - | - |
| 9–13 years | - | - | 300 | 600 | - | - | - | - |
| 14–18 | - | - | 400 | 800 | 600 | 800 | 500 | 800 |
| 19+ | - | - | 400 | 1000 | 600 | 1000 | 500 | 1000 |