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  • Vitamin B9 - folic acid
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All about vitamins: vitamin B9 (folic acid)

Folic acid is one of the most multi-faceted and most indispensable vitamins of our system. It is crucial for the metabolism of cells and for the production of molecules that produce DNA. In the United States and in Canada flour and milk is centrally enriched by folic acid - for us, only traditional methods are available.

Folic acid is known mostly for its important role during pregnancy: if the mother's body has enough folic acid, it can considerably reduce the risks of different abnormalities of birth. Aside from that, it is essential for cell division, and for the synthesis of DNA, RNA and proteins. It is also pivotal for the production and reproduction of hemoglobin (proteins in red blood cells that carry oxygen). It helps fight hemocystein in blood circulation, thus contributing to the prevention of arteriosclerosis.

It can be found in vegetables with green leaves, liver, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach and leguminous vegetables, also in wheat germ, walnut, hazelnut, and in diverse kinds of fresh fruit and in yeast. Regarding meat, only liver contains significant amount of folic acid.

If our body does not get enough vitamin B9, the number of white blood cells decreases, and there can also be dysfunctions in the absorption of iron and vitamin B12. A symptom can be tongue inflammation or different abnormities of stomach and bowel system activities.

The lack of sufficient amount of folic acid during pregnancy drastically increases the chances of open spine, miscarriage, premature birth and other complications of birth.

Folic acid, generally like all vitamins that dissolve in water, cannot be overdosed. However, excess quantities of it can disturb the effects of some medicines or harm the zinc metabolism system, which in turn can be dangerous during pregnancy. In case of extreme overdose, stomach and sleep problems and skin irritations can appear.

Recommended dietary allowance (RDA) of vitamin B9:

For children:

For women:

For men:

How much do they contain?