Folate what is it good for

Other studies have seen similar benefits with ovarian and cervical cancers. As an essential nutrient sourced from food, folate is not associated with side effects or risks. In the end, you cannot get too much folate from the foods you eat. The same cannot be said of folic acid, which may cause abdominal cramps, insomnia, nausea, diarrhea, and permanent nerve damage if overconsumed. Although dietary folate cannot interact with pharmaceutical or over-the-counter medications, certain drugs can interfere with how folate is metabolized.

These include:. The recommended daily allowance RDA of folate can vary by age and pregnancy status as follows:. Folate is naturally present in a wide variety of foods, including vegetables especially dark green leafy vegetables , fruits, nuts, beans, peas, seafood, eggs, dairy, meat, poultry, and grains. Among the foods especially rich in folate are:. How do you know if you have folate deficiency?

Signs of folate deficiency are often subtle. Unexplained fatigue and weakness are often the first signs. It is usually only after symptoms are severe that folate deficiency anemia is diagnosed. It differentiated from other types of anemia in that the reduced red blood cell count will be accompanied by the appearance of large, misshapen, immature red blood cells called megaloblasts. Also known as megaloblastic anemia, the condition may cause a cascade of specific and non-specific symptoms, including:.

Looking to start a diet to better manage your high blood pressure? Our nutrition guide can help. Maternal folic acid supplementation and the risk of congenital heart defects in offspring: a meta-analysis of epidemiological observational studies. Sci Rep. Khan KM, Jialal I. Folic acid folate deficiency. In: StatPearls. Updated December 3, Obeid R, Herrmann W. The emerging role of unmetabolized folic acid in human diseases: myth or reality?

Curr Drug Metab. Folate intake and incidence of hypertension among American young adults: a y follow-up study.

The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Is 5-methyltetrahydrofolate an alternative to folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects?

Journal of Perinatal Medicine. March 13, Updated estimates of neural tube defects prevented by mandatory folic Acid fortification - United States, You may opt-out of e-mail communications at any time by clicking on the Unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

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This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. See more conditions. Folate folic acid. Products and services. Folate folic acid By Mayo Clinic Staff. What if I take too much? Folic acid is generally very safe.

Taking too much is unlikely to harm you or your child. If you're worried, speak to your pharmacist or doctor. Common side effects Talk to your pharmacist or doctor if these side effects bother you or do not go away: feeling sick nausea - but if you're pregnant, this is more likely to be morning sickness loss of appetite bloating or wind Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, folic acid can cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis.

What to do about: feeling sick - take folic acid with, or just after, a meal or snack to ease feelings of sickness. If you're pregnant, it could be morning sickness that's making you feel sick. If it helps, eat smaller meals more often than usual. Snack when you're hungry. Have nutritious snacks that are high in calories and protein, such as dried fruit and nuts.

If the symptoms get worse, contact your doctor straight away. Usually, folic acid is safe to take during pregnancy. Folic acid and breastfeeding Folic acid is safe to take while you're breastfeeding. But if your baby is premature or has health problems, check with your doctor first. Important Tell your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant, already pregnant or breastfeeding.

There are some medicines that may interfere with how folic acid works. Folic acid can also affect the way other medicines work. Tell your doctor if you're taking these medicines before you start taking folic acid: methotrexate, a medicine used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, psoriasis and some types of cancer phenytoin, fosphenytoin, phenobarbital or primidone, medicines used to treat epilepsy fluorouracil, capecitabine, raltitrexed or tegafur, medicines used to treat some types of cancer antibiotics, medicines used to treat or prevent bacterial infection medicines or alternative remedies that contain zinc including throat lozenges and cold remedies sulfasalazine, a medicine used to treat the inflammatory bowel conditions ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease cholestyramine, a medicine used to reduce cholesterol Mixing folic acid with herbal remedies or supplements Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking any herbal remedies or supplements together with folic acid.

Some vitamin and mineral supplements may already contain folic acid. Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you take any supplements or remedies that contain zinc.

Folic acid can stop zinc working as well as it should. Important For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements. How does folic acid work? In anaemia Folic acid helps make healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. This causes folate deficiency anaemia, which can cause tiredness and other symptoms. In pregnancy A baby's body and most of their internal organs are formed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Women need up to 10 times more folate in pregnancy to help the baby develop. To reduce the side effects of methotrexate Methotrexate works by blocking some of the effects of folate. Taking folic acid can help prevent the side effects of folate deficiency. How long does folic acid take to work? Folic acid usually starts to work in a few hours. It's important to keep taking your folic acid for as long as it's recommended.

How long will I take it for? This depends on why you're taking folic acid: In pregnancy - women are recommended to take folic acid while they're trying for a baby and for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Are there other sources of folate? Good sources of folate include: spinach, kale, asparagus, brussels sprouts, cabbage and broccoli peas, lentils and beans including chickpeas and black eyed beans yeast and beef extracts including Marmite and Bovril oranges and orange juice wheat bran and other wholegrain foods poultry, pork, shellfish and liver fortified foods with added folic acid including some brands of breakfast cereals.

Do I need to take folic acid in pregnancy if I already eat foods that contain folate? Folic acid supplements play an important role in ensuring that vulnerable individuals and those in greater need of folate receive enough. Increasing intake of folate-rich foods is also important as these foods typically also provide plenty of other nutrients that all act together to support good health.

Anyone who may become pregnant is recommended to obtain micrograms mcg per day of folic acid from dietary supplements in addition to the folate present in a varied diet. It is essential to consume enough folic acid during pregnancy to help protect against miscarriage and neural tube defects in the fetus.

In a study from McGill University, paternal folate deficiency in mice was associated with a 30 percent increase in various congenital deformities than in offspring with no paternal folate deficiencies. Low folate status has been linked to an increased risk of depression and poor response to antidepressant treatment.

Folate deficiency has been linked to depression in people with epilepsy , and one study suggested that supplementation of the nutrient could help treat low mood. Folic acid supplementation has not been suggested as a treatment in itself for depression, but it may be helpful in improving response to antidepressants such as fluoxetine, especially in women.

As elevated levels of homocysteine are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, some researchers have suggested that folic acid and B12 may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. B vitamin supplementation including folate may be associated with a lower risk of stroke.

Low levels of folate intake are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in women and several epidemiological studies have suggested an inverse association between folate status and the risk of colorectal, lung, pancreatic, esophageal, stomach, cervical, ovarian and other cancers.

One study , for example, suggested that folate can have protective effects against esophageal cancer. However, other studies have found no association between folate and cancer. Some studies even suggest that high folate status might promote progression of cancer that is already present, such as a study in rats that showed how supplementation can cause tumor growth.

When taken long before colorectal cancer is diagnosed, high folate intake is associated with a lower risk of colorectal cancer.