Uses and Benefits of Folic Acid

Vitamin B9 is a water-soluble Vitamin, which belongs to the B-complex group of Vitamins. The word folic acid, also known as Vitamin B9 got its name from the Latin word folium, which means foliage or leaf. Vitamin B9 is the most stable form of vitamin B, is a synthetic folate, is not manufactured in the human body (an essential B vitamin), and rarely found in the foods we eat. Most of the time vitamin B9 needs to be taken as a supplement, or fortified in the foods we eat. Vitamin B9 appears as yellowish-orange crystals that do not dissolve quickly in water.

Benefits of Folic Acid

Vitamin B9 is an important constituent of the enzyme tetrahydrofolic acid, which is essential for the generation of various chemical components of DNA and RNA nucleoproteins. Vitamin B9 is a necessary component for the production of red blood cells and for the synthesis of DNA, which controls hereditary and guides the daily activities of the body cells such as cell duplication and division. Some of the benefits of folic acid/vitamin B9 are as follows.

Good Mental Health

One of the benefits of folic acid is that it provides good mental and emotional health. It helps brain to function properly and plays an important role in human health and development. Vitamin B9 can be used in the prevention and treatment of depression by reducing levels of homocysteine, which causes depression.

Used in the Treatment of Many Diseases

Folic acid can be used in the treatment of anemia, headaches, relieving rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoporosis. It can also help in the treatment of alcoholism and related stomach or intestinal problems. It also promotes liver health and can prevent liver disease and kidney problems. Folic acid also increases appetite by stimulating the formation of digestive acids, which can help in the treatment of anemia, diarrhea, and tiredness.

Improves Health Heart

As mentioned before, folic acid reduces homocysteine levels in the blood. High levels of homocysteine can cause heart attack, and can harm the inner surface of blood vessels, so vitamin B9 is helpful in the prevention of heart attack. Increased levels of homocysteine in the blood may narrow and harden the arteries and diminish the flow of blood through the arteries, which may result into blood clotting, and atherosclerosis. Reduced blood supply to the heart increases the chances of heat attack. The intake of vitamin B9 and fortified cereals can raise blood folate levels and bring down blood homocysteine levels, and help prevent heart disease, stroke and atherosclerosis.

Cure Cancers

High levels of folic acid benefits smokers by protecting the lungs from lung cancer by reducing the number of abnormal or precancerous bronchial cells. Vitamin B9 also helps to prevent colorectal cancer, throat cancer, cervical cancer, and breast cancers. Folic acid benefits cervix cancer patients by improving ulcerative colitis symptoms. Smokers, heavy alcohol users, elderly people, and women taking oral contraceptives should strongly consider supplementation of vitamin B9 because they all have difficulty in absorbing folic acid from the diet.