Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 3 : Recommended Dietary Allowances for Nutrients

Folic acid

The primary biochemical function of folic acid is related to the transfer of single carbon in the synthesis of a number of metabolites in the body. Along with vitamin B12 folic acid is connected with the synthesis of nucleic acid. After absorption, folic acid undergoes a series of metabolic conversions to its various coenzymic forms. Folic acid requirements are expressed in terms of ‘free’ folic acid which is readily absorbed. Folic acid allowances (?g/day) are as follows:

Table 10: RDA for Folic acid

Group	Folic acid ( ?g/d)
Adult man Adult woman	200 200
Pregnant woman Lactating woman	500 300
Infants: 0 -6 months 6- 12 months	25 25
Children: 1-3 years 4- 6 years 7-9 years	80 100 120
Adolescents: 10-12 years Boys Girls 13-15 years Boys Girls 16-18 years Boys Girls	140 140 150 150 200 200

Ref: Nutrition Expert group, ICMR(2010)