Folate and Folic Acid—Everything You Need to Know
6 min read

Folate and Folic Acid—Everything You Need to Know

Author_Katherine-Baker Diet & Nutrition Education

Folate: you’ve probably heard of it. You probably know it’s a vitamin. But what is it, and why do you need it? What about folic acid? Are they the same or different? Read on to learn everything you need to know about folate and folic acid, and why the difference between them matters.

Also known as vitamin B-9, folate is an essential micronutrient found naturally in many foods. B vitamins help the body convert food into energy for fuel, and are important in the formation of red blood cells. Folate is also involved in the metabolism of several amino acids, and the methylated form of folate, plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the nervous system.

Folate also helps the body build DNA, and to protect DNA from potentially harmful mutations, including those that may be cancerous. In fact, some studies associate folate-rich diets with lower risks of colon, breast, stomach, and cervical cancers. And when folate teams up with the other B vitamins, together they form a B-vitamin complex that helps support the health of liver, skin, hair, eyes, and heart. Talk about squad goals!

Folate vs. Folic Acid

While they sound similar, folate and folic acid are actually not interchangeable. Folate is the reduced form of the vitamin, and the form found naturally in foods and in tissues in the human body. Folic acid is the vitamin’s oxidized form, which is a fancy way of saying oxygen has been added to the molecule. This is the form found in most fortified foods and dietary supplements. To make use of it, the body must convert it to a useable methylated form in the liver. But not everyone can. About 40-60% of the population can’t successfully convert synthetic folic acid to the methylated form. To top it off, the unmethylated form of the vitamin may build up in the bloodstream, which can actually be harmful. 

How much folate do I need?

The USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest healthy adults consume about 400 micrograms of folate or folic acid per day, but the amount varies based on age, lifestyle, and the bioavailability of the form of the vitamin being consumed (more on that below). Because it plays such a vital role in cell growth and division, it’s especially important to make sure you’re getting enough during periods of growth, including infancy, development, and pregnancy. And because humans cannot store amounts of large amounts of folate in the body the way it can with certain vitamins (like fat-soluble vitamins), it’s important to get folate from the food you eat on a regular basis. Folate deficiency can lead to symptoms like diarrhea, poor growth, gingivitis, depression, anemia, headache, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and confusion. But one of the most serious health complications of folate deficiency can occur when pregnant women don’t get enough. This is why you see high levels of folic acid in prenatal vitamins. Expecting mothers who do not consume enough folate risk delivering babies with neural tube defects (abnormal development of the neural tube), which can negatively impact the development of the brain, spinal cord, and quality of life for the infant.

Sources of folate in foods

Leafy greens like spinach and collard greens are naturally rich in folate. Asparagus, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, papaya, oranges, avocados, sunflower seeds, peanuts, flax, almonds, strawberries, and raspberries also contain high levels of folate. Many legumes, including lentils, pinto beans, garbanzo beans, black beans, and Nuzest’s star ingredient, peas, and are natural sources of the vitamin, as well. Bread, flour, cornmeal, pasta, rice, and other grain products must now all contain folic acid, per a 1996 FDA mandate that aimed to reduce risks of neural tube defects. It should be noted, however, that organic brands do not have to follow this regulation, so be sure to check nutrition labels if you have a concern.

How can I add more folate to my diet?

If you are concerned you’re not getting enough folate, try adding more fresh fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds, and leafy greens mentioned above.

References

Gropper, SS, Smith, JL. Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism, Sixth Edition.

Wadsworth: Belmont, CA. 2013. Mayer, J. USDA-ARS Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 711 Washington St., Boston, MA 02111.

National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. Folate Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet. 20 Apr 2016. Web. URL: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/ Smith AD, Kim Y-I, Refsum H.

Is folic acid good for everyone? The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2008;87(3):517-33. USDA Food and Drug Administration.

Foods to be Fortified With Folic Acid. June 1 Wright AJ, Dainty JR, Finglas PM.

Folic acid metabolism in human subjects revisited: potential implications for proposed mandatory folic acid fortification in the UK. British Journal of Nutrition. 2007;98(04):667-75.