Health and Fitness

The pharmaceutical preparation of folates is called folic acid. It is alternatively known as folacin. Folic acid plays a vital role in the production of nucleic acid which makes the chromosome. It is also required by the body to help in the development of blood cells in bone marrow. Folates are found in two different forms in foods, they are free folates and bound folates. The free folates are easily absorbed in the body from the small intestine while regarding the availability of the bound folates, it is uncertain.

Dietary sources

The name is derived from the Latin ‘folia’ meaning leaf, so the leafy vegetables are obviously a rich source of folates. However, other sources like meat, liver, eggs, milk and other dairy products, cereals and fruits are equally good sources of it.

Deficiency disorders

Overcooking generally destroys folates present in the foods leading to folate deficiency. It can also occur from a poor diet intake. During pregnancy and lactation the requirement increases and can cause megaloblastic anemia, glossitis, cheilosis, and some other disorders like diarrhea, flatulence and distention. Severe folate deficiency can cause infertility, abortions and birth defects in the fetus.

Requirement

Body storage of folates is not large. It is required largely in the growing children and during pregnancy. It reduces the chance of low birth weight babies. Daily recommended doses are