Folic Acid (folacin) is a component of the vitamin B complex and - along with vitamin B12 and vitamin C - acts as a coenzyme to break down and utilize proteins. Folic acid is also necessary for the formation of red blood cells, and for the formation of nucleic acid, (integral to the growth and reproduction of all body cells). It is necessary for proper function of the brain, for the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and for optimum performance of the liver.

The best sources of folic acid in the diet are leafy green vegetables, liver and brewer’s yeast. However, this vital B-vitamin is easily destroyed by exposure to light and high temperatures.

Health professionals worldwide have recognized for some time the importance of folic acid in the diet. Supplementation with folic acid is particularly important for pregnant women, and the World Health Organization has estimated that one-third to one-half of pregnant women are deficient in folic acid during the last three months of pregnancy. This is because the fetus uses up the mother’s folic acid reserves in the course of its rapid growth. Folic acid supplementation is also important for women taking birth control pills, and for anyone with a disease that interferes with the absorption of food in the intestine (e.g. Crohn’s disease or celiac disease). Stress, the consumption of alcohol and disease all increase the body’s need for folic acid.