Human Nutrition 3(3+0)

Lesson 30 : Folic Acid

Introduction

• The name ‘folic acid’ has been derived the Latin word "folium" for leaf as it was extracted from spinach leaves in 1941.
• Folic acid is the parent compound of a large group of naturally occurring, structurally related compounds collectively known as the folates.
• Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin. This vitamin is absorbed from the small intestine, carried by the bloodstream and stored in the body, but not in significant amounts. Liver and other tissues store 7 mg of folic acid and can prevent deficiency only for a few months. The body uses what it needs and excretes the extra amounts through urine.
• Folic acid has been found to be effective in the treatment of anaemia.