B9, or folate, is a vitamin that helps to lower levels of homocysteine in the bloodstream. Homocysteine is an amino acid that can build up in the blood and damage arteries and heart tissue. Folate is also essential for proper brain function, as well as the growth and development of children.
When you consume foods containing folate, your body converts it into its active form called tetrahydrofolate (THF). The THF then acts as a methyl donor by donating its single-carbon unit to convert homocysteine back into methionine — another amino acid that is used to make proteins.
Vitamin B9 (folic acid) is required for the body to make DNA and RNA, which are the building blocks of our cells. It also helps make red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. Folic acid deficiency is rare in developed countries because it is found in many foods such as green leafy vegetables, fruits, nuts and beans.
Vitamin B9 benefits
Folic acid benefits include:
Helps to prevent birth defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly during pregnancy. These conditions occur when there is a problem with the development of the spine or brain before birth. If you are planning a pregnancy or already pregnant, it’s important to get enough folic acid before you conceive and while you are pregnant. Your doctor may recommend taking extra folic acid supplements if you have previously had a baby with one of these problems or if there’s a history of these conditions in your family.
Helps maintain healthy skin by keeping new skin cells growing normally during cell division (mitosis). This prevents dryness and roughness of skin due to sun exposure or aging, but does not replace sunscreen use for protection against UVA and UVB rays from sunlight that can cause premature aging of skin cells (photoaging).
Vitamin B9 is also known as folic acid and it is one of the eight essential vitamins that are necessary for your body to function properly. It is an important part of many bodily functions including, but not limited to, red blood cell production, DNA synthesis and amino acid metabolism.
Vitamin B9 is found in a wide range of fruits, vegetables and grains. It can be easily added to your diet by eating more of these foods on a daily basis.
Here are some examples of foods containing vitamin B9:
Avocado
Asparagus
Kiwi fruit
Mango
Papaya
Vitamin B9, also known as folic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that’s essential for cell division and growth. It’s found in many foods and it’s also available as a dietary supplement.
Benefits of Vitamin B9
Vitamin B9 is involved in the production of DNA and RNA, which are important for creating new cells. It also helps to keep your heart healthy by lowering levels of homocysteine in your blood. High levels of homocysteine have been linked to increased risk of heart disease.
Folic acid deficiency can cause a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia, which means that red blood cells are larger than normal because they haven’t been able to divide properly. This can cause fatigue, shortness of breath and other symptoms.
The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for folic acid is 400 micrograms (mcg) for adults up to age 50 and 600 mcg for those over age 50. The RDA increases during pregnancy to 600 mcg per day because your baby needs this nutrient while it’s developing in the womb.
Folate is a B vitamin that helps make and maintain new cells in the body. It’s also important for women who are pregnant or may become pregnant because it helps prevent neural tube defects, which are birth defects of the brain and spine.
Folate is naturally found in foods such as leafy green vegetables, beans, citrus fruits, strawberries, and fortified cereals. Your doctor may recommend taking folic acid supplements to increase your intake of this vitamin.
Here are some examples of foods that contain folate:
Beans (black-eyed peas, kidney beans and pinto beans)
Asparagus
Strawberries (fresh or frozen)
Lentils
Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin. It’s also called folate when it’s in foods and folic acid when it’s in supplements.
The body needs folic acid to make new cells and DNA, which is the genetic material in all cells. Folate also plays an important role in brain development of a fetus, particularly during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Folic acid is found naturally in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement.
Folic acid is a type of B vitamin that is critical for the development of an unborn baby. It’s naturally found in certain foods, including leafy green vegetables, beans and whole grains. Folic acid can also be taken as a supplement.
Benefits of Folic Acid
Folic acid helps prevent neural tube defects in babies, such as spina bifida. These birth defects can cause disabilities or even death in some cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), folic acid supplements reduce the risk of neural tube defects by up to 70 percent when taken at least one month before pregnancy and through the first trimester (first 12 weeks).
Folic acid is also necessary for DNA synthesis and cell division during early stages of pregnancy. This means it plays an important role in fetal growth and development, particularly during the first four weeks after conception. After that point, it’s still needed for proper development of a baby’s organs and tissues, but not nearly as much as before conception occurred.
Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps the body make new cells. It’s also important for the development of a baby’s spinal cord and brain.
Before you get pregnant, it’s a good idea to start taking a supplement that contains folic acid. Your doctor may recommend you take 0.4 milligrams of folic acid every day for one month before you conceive, and again during your first trimester. Taking folic acid supplements early in pregnancy can help prevent neural tube defects in your baby, such as spina bifida.
Your body needs folic acid to make healthy red blood cells and prevent anemia during pregnancy. Your baby needs these healthy red blood cells to grow and develop properly inside the womb. Folate also helps prevent birth defects of the spine and brain (neural tube defects).
Folate is a B vitamin. It’s also known as folic acid, a synthetic form of the vitamin that you can get in fortified foods and as a supplement.
Folate is important for many reasons. It helps your body make new cells and repair DNA. It’s essential during pregnancy because it helps prevent birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. Folate also is important for women who might become pregnant, since low levels of folate can cause major birth defects in young children.
If you’re not pregnant or trying to get pregnant, folate can help protect against heart disease and stroke.
What foods have folate?
The best sources of folate are leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale, beans, fruits such as oranges and melons, as well as liver, eggs and cheese.
Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps your body make new cells. It’s naturally found in many foods, including leafy green vegetables, fruits, beans, peas and fortified grains.
Folic acid can prevent neural tube defects (NTDs), which are serious birth defects of the brain and spinal cord. NTDs include spina bifida and anencephaly. Folic acid is recommended for all women who could become pregnant to help prevent these birth defects. You should get enough folic acid before you conceive, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding your baby.
Why do I need folic acid?
Your body needs folic acid for:
DNA synthesis: DNA is the molecule that carries genetic information in each cell of your body. It tells cells what proteins to make and how much of each protein to make at any given time. Without enough folic acid, you may develop a nutritional deficiency called megaloblastic anemia, which means large red blood cells with abnormal nuclei that can’t divide properly when they’re mature. This type of anemia is usually caused by a lack of vitamin B12 or folate — both are needed for red blood cell production in bone marrow (the soft tissue inside bones
Folic acid is a B vitamin that plays an important role in the development of a baby’s brain and spinal cord during pregnancy. It may also lower the risk of birth defects, including spina bifida.
Women who are pregnant or plan to become pregnant should talk with their health care provider about whether they need additional folic acid.
Folic acid is found naturally in certain foods, and it’s added to others. Folic acid taken as a supplement may help protect against neural tube defects, such as spina bifida. But it doesn’t work as well if you aren’t also eating foods rich in folic acid or taking other B vitamins that work with it. That’s why many doctors recommend taking 400 micrograms (mcg) daily when you’re trying to get pregnant and while you’re pregnant — before conception through the first trimester (12 weeks).