IMPORTANCE OF FOLIC ACID IN HUMAN BODY ITS REQUIREMENT AND SOURCES

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 Introduction

Folic acid is generally called vitamin B9.That is water soluble vitamin. It play a vital role in human body. It is important for red blood cell formation, DNA synthesis ,Cell growth and normal functioning of nervous system. 

During cell division in the body folate converted into tetrahydrofolate which carry one carbon unit to make purine and thymidine which is important building block of DNA if folic acid become unavailable in the body supply of carbon to purine and thymidine reduces as a result they formation will reduced also the whole process get suffered and the cell become immature and non functional.

It is also very important in growth period such as pregnancy, infancy, Childhood and Adolescence.

Chemical nature of Folic acid

It has three components.

1. Glutamic acid

2.Pteridine ring

3. Para aminobenzoic acid

These three structure combine together and form pteroylgluyamic acid that is the chemical nature of folic acid.

How folic acid get  absorption, transport and store in the body

Absorption

*Folic acid is absorbed in the jejunum of small intestine

* Synthetic folic acid absorb more than natural folic acid

* Dietary folate are usually present in polyglutamate form which will  converted into monoglutamate form for intestinal enzyme before absorption

Transport of folic acid

* After absorption it will move toward blood stream where it bind with plasma protein.

* It convert into its active form tetrahydrofolate in the liver

Storage of folic acid

 *Folic acid mainly absorbed in the liver

* It is water soluble therefore it excrete in excess amount through urine

* Body store 5-10 mg of folic acid

Function of folic acid

We will discuss all all function of folic acid 

1.Nervous system 

 * It is important for normal brain health function and mental growth.

* It is important for the synthesis of neurotransmitter 

2. Immune system

* It enhance the response of immune function 

* It help in the support and production of White blood cell

3. Cardiovascular Health

 * It protect cardiovascular system by reducing homocysteine level.

What is homocysteine level?

 It is an amino acid that is present in small amount in blood when vitamin B9 act upon it convert into useful product like Methionine when  homocysteine increase it will become a cause of several heart disease.

4. Cancer protection

* Adequate intake of B9 help the syntheses of DNA that prevent mutation of DNA in  the body as a result chance of cancer reduced.

5. Metabolism of amino acid

Folic acid participate in the metabolism of amino acid in the given below

* Serine

* Glycine

* Methionine

* Homocysteine

6. Formation of red blood cell

* Essential for the production of RBCs in bone marrow

* It closely works with Vitamin B12 during RBCs formation

*    RBCs contain no DNA but that is a mature in an immature RBCs they contain during their development stage they contain DNA and that DNA require folic acid for their division if folic acid will not available in this stage  formation of new DNA will reduced  due to the deficiency of folic acid as a result immature large RBCs formed in the body. 

For more about  disease caused by the   deficiency of folic acid https://www.healthduhs.org/2026/02/what-is-anemia-what-are-sign-and.html

7. DNA and RNA Synthesis

*Adequate amino acid is important for cell division

* Purine and Pyrimidine these are the building block of DNA and folic acid is essential for the formation of these building block.

8. Role in fetal development and pregnancy 

* It is important for neural tube plate this plate is important for brain and spinal cord formation

* For proper development of placenta adequate folic acid is mandatory 

Sources of Folic acid

There are two main sources Folic acid

Natural and synthetic source.

1. Natural source

 * Spinach

*Broccoli

* Lettuce

* mustard green

* Fenugreen

*Chickpeas

* lentils

*Kidney beans

* Peas

*Soybeans

* Orange 

* Banana 

* Papaya

*Avocado

* strawberry 

*Almonds 

* Peanut

*Sunflower 

*Seed

* Egg yolk

* Milk 

* beef

* Liver of chicken and beef

Artifical source of vitamin B9 or folic acid

* Bread and pasta

* Fortified creals

* Fortified wheat flour

* Multivitamin tablets

* parental summpliment

* Folic acid tablet

Rocommendation of Folic acid according to age

1. Infant

* 0-6 months = 65 mcg/day

*7-12 months = 80 mcg/day

2. Children

* 1-3 year= 150 mcg/day

* 4-8 year= 200mcg/day

* 9-13 year= 300mcg/day

3. Adolescents

* 14-18 year= 400mcg/day

4. Adult

* above 18=400mcg/day




5. Reproductive age female 

400mcg/day

6. During pregnancy

600mcg/day

7. During lactation

500mcg/day

What is mcg?

 mcg (micro gram) is a smaller unit which we mostly used for the for the purpose waiteage of small quantity.

1000 mcg =1mg(milligram)

Deficiency of folic acid

* Pale skin

Folic acid is essential for DNA synthesis which is most important for RBCs formation without folic acid red blood cell become large and immature they are unable to transport oxygen as a result body become discolour or pale.

* Shortness of breathing

Due to the decreased concentration of oxygen in blood in response to such type of deficiency body increase the breathing rate to overcome this difficulty

* Fatigue

 Cells are not getting enough oxygen due to this the energy production of cell decreased as a result fatigue occur

* Weakness 

Cells are not getting enough oxygen due to this the energy production of cell decreased as a result fatigue occur or muscle become weak due to not getting enough energy

* Irritability

Folate is responsible for making neurotransmitter 

Like dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine with the absence of folate these neurotransmitter will be affected and the mood will also be fluctuate

*Mouth ulcer

Mouth cells are rapid  dividing cells they require DNA for their synthesis without folate DNA will be affected due to this the formation these cell also be affected as a result mouth ulcer occur for more about the disease of mouth  visit this page https://www.healthduhs.org/2026/07/what-is-oral-cavity-is-stomatitis-is.html 

* Tongue swelling

Deficiency of folate cell make tongue cells to become painful, red and swollen

* Poor growth in children

Children in a growth phase require rapid growth of cell  they require DNA and DNA require  folic acid with the absence of folic acid growth of children will also be affected 

* Neural tube defect in infant

In pregnancy folic acid is essential for brain and spinal cord formation with the absence of folic acid there should be problem with the closing of neural plate these cause Spinia bifidia


References


 WHO -World Health Organization

NIH- National Institute Of Health)

 CDC- Centre for Disease Control and prevention















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