Product Information

Folic acid is necessary for cell replication and growth, as well as the synthesis of DNA and RNA, our cells’ genetic blueprints. 

It helps prevent alterations to DNA that can lead to cancer. Both adults and children require folic acid to build normal red blood cells and prevent one type of anemia.

Folic acid is essential for heart and brain health, as well as for correcting folic acid deficiencies.  It helps prevent depression and reduces blood homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is a cancer-promoting and heart-damaging toxin.

Folic acid improves fertility in men and is essential for women during pregnancy. Alcohol & many pharmaceutical medicines can cause a folic acid deficiency.

HEALTH BENEFITS

Cardiovascular Health Benefits of Folic Acid

Blood Vessels & Heart

Folic Acid may help to prevent Atherosclerosis (by helping to lower elevated Homocysteine levels and by directly improving the function of Endothelial Cells in the Arteries).  references

Folic Acid may help to prevent abnormal Blood Clotting (by lowering elevated Homocysteine and Fibrinogen levels).

Folic Acid may improve the function of the Endothelium of the Blood Vessels (by helping to lower Homocysteine levels). 

Folic Acid may help to prevent Hypertension.  

Folic Acid may help to prevent Intermittent Claudication (by lowering elevated Homocysteine levels).

Folic Acid prevents Ischemic Heart Disease: 

Epidemiological studies have indicated that people with a low daily intake of Folic Acid have a 69% greater risk of Ischemic Heart Disease than people who consume 400 mcg or more of Folic Acid per day.

Folic Acid may help to prevent Heart Attack (primarily by lowering elevated Homocysteine levels).

Folic Acid may help to prevent Stroke (by lowering elevated Homocysteine levels).  Folic Acid (commenced as soon as possible after the occurrence of an ischemic Stroke) may minimize subsequent damage from (ischemic) Stroke. 

Folic Acid may help to prevent Thrombosis (including Deep-Vein Thrombosis) (primarily by lowering elevated Homocysteine levels).

Red Blood Cells

Folic Acid stimulates the formation of Red Blood Cells: 

• Macrocytic Anemia may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency.
• Macrocytosis may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency.

Folic Acid May help to prevent Megaloblastic Anemia (i.e. badly formed Red Blood Cells).

Folic Acid carries the Carbon molecule to the larger Heme molecule which is the Iron-containing part of Hemoglobin.

Folic Acid (5 mg or more per day) may improve the health of Sickle-Cell Anemia patients.  

Cellular Effects of Folic Acid

Genes

Folic Acid may protect Chromosomes and may prevent damage to Chromosomes:

Folic Acid may inhibit the ability of Gamma-Rays to damage Chromosomes.

Folic Acid may protect the p53 Tumor Suppressor Gene and may prevent mutations in the p53 Tumor Suppressor Gene. 

Growth

Folic Acid may be necessary for Growth.

Folic Acid (at least 400 mcg per day consumed by women during Pregnancy) may help to prevent most Neural Tube Defects (especially Spina Bifida).  This application of Folic Acid is one of the few applications for vitamins that has unequivocal and total approval from orthodox medicine.

Digestive System Health Benefits of Folic Acid

Folic Acid may enhance the general health of the Digestive System.

Folic Acid may increase Appetite.

Most Celiac Disease patients are found to be deficient in Folic Acid (indicating that supplemental Folic Acid would benefit Celiac Disease patients).

Folic Acid (high doses of up to 60 mg per day) may help to treat Constipation where Constipation is caused by Folic Acid deficiency.  references

Crohn's Disease patients are often found to be deficient in Folic Acid and supplemental Folic Acid (800 mcg per day) may help to restore the integrity of the Intestines in Crohn’s Disease patients.

Chronic (long-term) Diarrhea patients are at risk of Folic Acid deficiency and supplemental Folic Acid reduces the duration of Diarrhea caused by infections.  Folic Acid may also help to repair Diarrhea-induced damage to the Intestines. 

Folic Acid may help to protect against Intestinal Parasites.  [more info]

Folic Acid may reduce the risk of Colon Cancer in Ulcerative Colitis patients (Ulcerative Colitis patients generally have a significantly increased risk of Colon Cancer).  references

Eyes/Vision Health Benefits of Folic Acid

Eyesight Ailments

Folic Acid may help to prevent Cataracts.  

Folic Acid may help to prevent Glaucoma (by counteracting the toxicity of Glutamic Acid, a suspected cause of Glaucoma). 

Hair/Skin Health Benefits of Folic Acid

Hair

Folic Acid may delay the onset of Gray Hair.

Hair Loss may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency:

Supplemental Folinic Acid (a metabolite of Folic Acid, available in Pharmaceutical Drug form as Leucovorin Calcium [Immunex, Wellcovorin] - 10 mg per day) counteracts the Hair Loss caused by Methotrexate (as Methotrexate blocks the conversion of Folic Acid to endogenous Folinic Acid).

Skin

Folic Acid (5 - 10 mg per day) may improve the condition of Acne patients (in 87% of cases).  

Folic Acid may alleviate Psoriasis and some cases of Psoriasis are attributable to Folic Acid deficiency. 

Seborrheic Dermatitis may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency. 

Folic Acid may improve the appearance of the Skin (pale, washed out Skin is a symptom of Folic Acid deficiency). 

Folic Acid may accelerate the healing of Skin Ulcers when Skin Ulcers are due to impaired Blood Circulation. 

Vitiligo patients are often found to have sub-optimal Folic Acid levels and supplemental Folic Acid (10 mg per day in conjunction with supplemental Vitamin C and Vitamin B12) may help to restore Skin pigmentation to normal in Vitiligo patients.

Folic Acid may be essential for the healing of Wounds. 

Folic Acid (applied topically) may reduce the appearance of Wrinkles.

Immune System Health Benefits of Folic Acid

Cancer

Folic Acid may help to prevent some forms of Cancer: 

Folic Acid may help to prevent Bladder Cancer. 

Folic Acid may help to prevent Breast Cancer (especially in women who consume excessive quantities of Alcohol (ethanol)). 

Folic Acid may help to prevent Cervical Cancer (low Folic Acid levels allow the cervix to become more susceptible to the Papilloma Virus that is implicated in Cervical Cancer). 

Folic Acid may help to prevent Colon Cancer (studies have shown that women who consume 400 mcg of Folic Acid per day for at least 15 years have a 75% reduction in their risk of Colon Cancer). 

Folic Acid may help to prevent Esophageal Cancer (Cancer of the Esophagus).

Folic Acid may help to prevent Laryngeal Cancer.

Folic Acid may help to prevent Leukoplakia (a precancer for Mouth Cancer)

Liver Cancer may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency (Folic Acid functions as a cofactor for the production of S-Adenosylmethionine (SAMe) and insufficient endogenous production of SAMe has been found to be a cause of Liver Cancer).

Folic Acid may help to prevent Lung Cancer.

Folic Acid supplementation during Pregnancy may help to prevent Neuroblastoma in offspring. 

Folic Acid may help to prevent Ovarian Cancer.

Folic Acid may help to prevent Pancreatic Cancer.

Folic Acid may help to prevent Prostate Cancer. 

Folic Acid may help to prevent  Stomach Cancer.

Folic Acid is under investigation for the prevention and treatment of Uterus Cancer (Folic Acid deficiency causes damage to the Cells of the Uterus that resembles the initial stages of Uterine Cervical Dysplasia and research has shown that women who consume Folic Acid supplements exhibit fewer pre-cancerous Uterus Cells compared to women with a low dietary intake of Folic Acid).  It is speculated that Folic Acid inhibits the progression of abnormal cells in the Uterus to Cancer cells and it is further speculated that Folic Acid may restore damaged cells of the Uterus to their healthy state.

One of the mechanisms by which Folic Acid prevents some forms of Cancer is by protecting th p53 Tumor Suppressor Gene and preventing mutations in the p53 Tumor Suppressor Gene.

Folic Acid inhibits the misincorporation of Uracil into Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA).  Misincorporation of Uracil into DNA (which occurs during Folic Acid deficiency) is implicated in various forms of Cancer.

10,000 mcg (10 mg) of Folic Acid per day (combined with 500 mcg Vitamin B12) may reverse pre-cancerous changes in Bronchial Tissue of Tobacco smokers. 

Underlying Mechanisms

Folic Acid is essential for the production of White Blood Cells.

Viruses

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients are often found to be deficient in Folic Acid (indicating that supplemental Folic Acid may be beneficial for AIDS patients).  references
 
Metabolic Health Benefits of Folic Acid

Antioxidant

Folic Acid may scavenge Singlet Oxygen Free Radicals. 

Blood Sugar

Folic Acid may help to prevent Atherosclerosis in Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 patients. 

Folic Acid may decrease Insulin Resistance. 

Cholesterol

Folic Acid may inhibit the oxidation of LDL Cholesterol. 

Energy/Fatigue
 
Many Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) patients are found to be deficient in Folic Acid (indicating that Folic Acid may be useful for the treatment of CFS). 

Fatigue may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency. 

Liver

Folic Acid may enhance the function of the Liver (it may inhibit the loss of Hepatocytes).  Folic Acid inhibits the ability of Homocysteine to damage the Liver. 

Folic Acid may help to prevent (Alcohol-Related) Fatty Liver. 

Musculoskeletal System Health Benefits of Folic Acid

Bone Ailments

Folic Acid may help to prevent Osteoporosis (by lowering elevated Homocysteine levels). 

Joint Ailments

Folic Acid (10 - 40 mg per day) may lowr Uric Acid levels in Gout patients and may help to prevent Gout (by inhibiting the Xanthine Oxidase enzyme that catalyzes the production of Uric Acid). 

Folic Acid (6,400 mcg combined with 20 mcg of the Cyanocobalamin form of Vitamin B12 per day) may improve the grip strength of Osteoarthritis patients with equal efficacy as Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs). 

Nervous System Health Benefits of Folic Acid

Nervous System:  Ailments

Imparied Abstract Reasoning may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency. 

Folic Acid deficiency may lead to Age-Related Hearing Loss. 

 Folic Acid may help to prevent Convulsions during Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (by lowering elevated Homocysteine levels).  

Folic Acid may help to preserve Motor Neuron function in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients. 

Folic Acid (administered concurrently with Vitamin B12) may alleviate Anxiety.

Apathy may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency. 

Folic Acid may be useful for the treatment of Autism. 
Poor Concentration ability may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency.

 Confusion may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency. 

Dementia may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency: 

Folic Acid may help to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease (by lowering total serum Homocysteine levels). 

Folic Acid may help to prevent Multiple-Infarct Dementia.  

epression may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency and supplemental Folic Acid, by restoring this Folic Acid deficiency may be an effective treatment for Depression: 

Major Depression may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency and supplemental Folic Acid (at the high dose of 10,000 mcg per day), by reversing this Folic Acid deficiency may be an effective treatment for Major Depression. 

Folic Acid may alleviate Manic Depression and many Manic Depression patients are found to be deficient in Folic Acid. 

Folic Acid (500 mcg per day or more) increases the effectiveness of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac for the treatment of Depresssion.

Folic Acid is a component of modern treatments to alleviate Down's Syndrome and abnormal Folic Acid metabolism in the mothers of Down’s Syndrome is one of the genetic factors that causes Down’s Syndrome in offspring.  Folic Acid supplementation during Pregnancy may help to prevent Down’s Syndrome in offspring. 

Insomnia may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency. 
 

Irritability may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency. 

Mania may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency.

Poor Memory may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency (primarily due to Folic Acid deficiency increasing the risk of elevated Homocysteine levels).

Many Neuropathy patients are found to be deficient in Folic Acid and supplemental Folic Acid (2.5-15 mg per day) may cause improvement in the condition of Neuropathy patients where Folic Acid deficiency is the underlying cause of Neuropathy. 

Folic Acid may alleviate Pain. 

Folic Acid (administered concurrently with Vitamin B12) may help to control Panic Disorder. 

Folic Acid may help to prevent Parkinson’s Disease (by lowering elevated Homocysteine levels). 

Folic Acid (in dosages of up to 5 mg per day) may alleviate (the Mixed Sensorimotor form of) Restless Legs Syndrome. 

 Schizophrenia may occur as a result of Folic Acid deficiency.

Nervous System:  Underlying Mechanisms

Some of Folic Acid's beneficial effects on the Nervous System occur from its ability to stimulate the conversion of Phenylalanine into Tyrosine and Norepinephrine.

 Folic Acid may facilitate the growth of Axons (including the regrowth of damaged Axons).