Folic Acid: should be taken properly

Also known as Vitamin B9, it plays an important role in facilitating many body processes. Among them are cell maintenance and repair, synthesis of DNA, amino acid metabolism and formation of red and white blood cells.

The benefits of folic acid supplements include:

1. Relief from depression (bipolar and unipolar).
2. Relief from bipolar mania.
3. Prevention of serious birth defects such as spina bifida if you become pregnant and have a baby.
4. Avoiding the unpleasant effects of folic acid deficiency, including grey hair, swollen tongue (glossitis), mouth ulcers, peptic ulcer, diarrhea, and anaemia.
However, folic acid supplements have a growing body of medical evidence to prove they nourish the brain and really can help bipolar people.

Fruits, green leafy vegetable (such as dried beans, peas, lentils, oranges, whole-wheat products, liver, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and spinach) and yeast are all foods containing folic acid in the form of folate. However, studies show that it is actually better absorbed by the body in supplement form. It is almost 50% less available from food sources, so it is probably wise to supplement to maximize Vitamin B benefits.

It is also thought that that there is an association between folate levels in the blood and mood. Folic acid is regarded as a very safe substance with no specific side-effects.

Folic acid is a water soluble vitamin. This means that any excess is simply excreted in urine. Toxic build-up or folic acid overdose are not possible. Even relatively high doses of 10-20mg/day are considered medically safe.

There is just one known health risk associated with taking folic acid. Ironically, this arises from one of the benefits of folic acid - its use in treating anaemia. Anaemia is a symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency. When people take folic acid the anaemia is relieved. However, the other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are not relieved by taking folic acid. Therefore taking folic acid can mask vitamin B12 deficiency. This is dangerous as B12 deficiency can cause permanent nerve damage. The best way to get around this is to either (1) also take the recommended daily amount of B12 (cheap and easy), or (2) have blood levels taken to moonitor B12 levels (more expensive and bothersome).

All people should consider whether their diets really do contain a good source of folic acid, or whether they need extra folic acid supplements.