Folic Acid

Our Price: $11.15

Quantity: 60 capsules per bottle.

Supplement Facts (amount per capsule):

Folic Acid (from Calcium Folinate) - 800mcg

Suggested Use: Take 1 capsule a day.

Folic acid, also called folate or folacin, is a B vitamin with a solid reputation for protecting against birth defects and heart disease. If adults were to get an adequate amount of this vitamin, it is estimated that 50,000 deaths from cardiovascular disease could be prevented each year in the United States alone. Moreover, common birth defects could be cut nearly in half. Other ailments, such as depression, Alzheimer's disease, and certain types of cancer may respond to the effects of folic acid as well.

Folic acid may help to:

- Improve fertility and prevent neurological birth defects. Taken as part of a B-complex vitamin that contains biotin and vitamin B12, folic acid can strengthen the reproductive system in women having trouble conceiving. Folic acid also ensures normal cell replication and contributes to the formation of DNA and RNA, making it essential for healthy fetal development. If a woman is taking adequate amounts of folic acid at the time she conceives, and during the first three months of pregnancy, the risk of giving birth to a baby with spina bifida or certain other serious birth defects can be decreased by nearly 50%.

- Lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. Folic acid appears to regulate the body's production and use of homocysteine, an amino acid-like compound that in excess amounts can contribute to the buildup of dangerous plaque in the blood vessels (a precursor of heart disease and stroke). In addition, a small Dutch study has recently shown that by lowering blood levels of homocysteine and improving the ability of the blood vessels to dilate, folic acid may reduce cardiovascular risk in those with a family history of high cholesterol.