Folacin

• beans and legumes
• citrus fruits and juices
• wheat bran and other whole grains
• dark green leafy vegetables
• poultry, pork, shellfish
• liver

Functions:
Folacin acts as a coenzyme (with vitamin B-12 and vitamin C ) in the breakdown ( metabolism ) of proteins and in the synthesis of new proteins. It is necessary for the production of red blood cells and the synthesis of DNA (which controls heredity), as well as tissue growth and cell function. It also increases the appetite and stimulates the formation of digestive acids. Synthetic folacin supplements may be used in the treatment of disorders associated with folacin deficiency and may also be part of the recommended treatment for certain menstrual problems and leg ulcers .

Recommendations:
Recommended daily allowances (RDAs) are defined as the levels of intake of essential nutrients that, on the basis of scientific knowledge, the Food and Nutrition Board judges to be adequate to meet the known nutrient needs of practically all healthy persons.

The best way to get the daily requirement of essential vitamins is to eat a balanced diet that contains a variety of foods from the food guide pyramid .

Most people in the United States get an adequate intake of folacin because it is plentiful in the food supply.

Pregnant women often require additional supplementation as prescribed by the health care provider. Adequate folacin is important to women in their childbearing years because it has been shown to prevent some kinds of birth defects, including neural tube defects. Women in this age group should make an effort to consume foods that are good sources of folacin. Recent studies published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) suggest that women who receive supplements of folacin BEFORE CONCEPTION may reduce the risk for neural tube defects by 50%. Women who plan to become pregnant may want to discuss taking a multivitamin with their health care provider.

Side Effects:
Folacin deficiency may cause poor growth, graying hair, inflammation of the tongue ( glossitis ), mouth ulcers , peptic ulcer , and diarrhea . It may also result in hemolytic and megaloblastic anemias .

Doses of folacin that greatly exceed the RDA may obscure a serious condition called pernicious anemia .


Birth defects of the spine and spinal cord are commonly referred to as spina bifida. Meningomyelocele (or myelomeningocele) is the protrusion of portions of the spinal cord through a spinal defect and can occur on the lower back, back of the neck, or back of the head.