Folic acid

Folic acid is the stable synthetic form of vitamin B9 used in supplements and food fortification. The body converts it into folate coenzymes needed for DNA synthesis and other reactions.

Dihydrofolate reductase: Dihydrofolate reductase is an enzyme that reduces dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate using NADPH. This enzyme performs the reduction steps that activate folic acid for metabolism.
Food fortification: Food fortification is the addition of nutrients to foods to improve dietary intake. Mandatory or voluntary fortification makes folic acid available through staple foods.
Lucy Wills: Lucy Wills was a British physician whose research identified a dietary factor that treated pregnancy-associated macrocytic anemia. Her work helped establish the nutritional basis of folate-related anemia before folic acid was isolated.
5-Methyltetrahydrofolate: 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate is the predominant circulating form of folate and a methyl donor in methionine synthesis. Unlike folic acid, it is already a reduced folate form and does not require the same initial reduction.
Tetrahydrofolate: Tetrahydrofolate is a reduced folate coenzyme that carries one-carbon units in biosynthesis. It is the central coenzyme form produced after folic acid is reduced.
Neural tube defects: Neural tube defects are birth defects caused by incomplete closure of the embryonic brain or spinal cord. Taking folic acid before and during early pregnancy lowers the risk of these defects.
Folate fortification in the United States: The United States required enriched grain products to contain folic acid beginning in 1998. The policy followed evidence that fortification could prevent neural tube defects.
Dietary folate: Dietary folate is vitamin B9 naturally present in foods, often as polyglutamate forms. It differs from synthetic folic acid in food sources, chemical forms, and bioavailability.
Methionine synthase: Methionine synthase is a vitamin B12-dependent enzyme that transfers a methyl group to homocysteine, forming methionine. Folate-derived methyl groups feed this reaction, linking folic acid metabolism to vitamin B12.
Prenatal vitamin: A prenatal vitamin is a supplement formulated to provide nutrients needed before and during pregnancy. Many prenatal supplements provide folic acid to support recommended intake around conception.

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