Folic Acid (Vitamin B9)

Also known as: B9, Folacin, Folate, Pteroylglutamic acid.

Vitamin B9 is water soluble so it must be consumed daily. B9 is most effective when taken with the B group of vitamins.

Vitamin C is also needed for maximum B9 utilization.

Vitamin B9 also plays a big role in maintaining muscle tone along the digestive tract, maintains health of the nervous system, skin, eyes, mouth as well as the liver as do all the B vitamins.

Vitamin B9 is water-soluble and must be taken every day because it is not stored in the body for long periods of time. It is excreted with in one to four days.

Home Remedies using Vitamin B9:

Benefits and Uses of Vitamin B9:

Vitamin B9 has many health benefits, including:

• Aids in DNA synthesis and cell growth
• Required for amino acid formation
• Required for red blood cell formation and energy production
• B9 is essential for creating heme, the iron containing substance in hemoglobin, which is crucial for oxygen transport
• Considered brain food, and is also important for healthy cell division since its involvement as coenzyme for RNA and DNA synthesis
• Required for protein metabolism and in treating folic acid anemia

Folic acid assists in digestion, aids the nervous system, and helps to improve mental as well as emotional health.

This nutrient has been effective in treating depression and anxiety. B9 is very important in the development of the nervous system of a developing fetus.

Vitamin B9 comes in the following over the counter forms:

• Tablet
• Capsule
• Powder
• Sublingual
• Lozenge
• Liquid

Vitamin B9 can be found in the following foods:

• Beans
• Beef
• Bran
• Brown rice
• Cheese
• Chicken
• Green leafy vegetables
• Lentils
• Liver
• Pork
• Root vegetables
• Tuna

Side Effects of Vitamin B9:

High doses for extended periods of time should be avoided by hormone-related cancer patients, and people with convulsive disorders. People on medication for epilepsy should be careful with large amounts of B9 due to the fact that it can change the functioning of such drugs.

Also, too much folic acid may hide a Vitamin B12 deficiency. A regular high dosage of B9 may cause digestive upset, energy loss, and insomnia.

(Note: Taking any one of the B vitamins alone for a long time can result in an imbalance of other B vitamins, for this reason it is best to take a B vitamin complex formula rather than a single B vitamin supplement alone.)