The B vitamin folate , also called folic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. Water-soluble vitamins are stored in the body in very limited amounts, and are excreted through the urine. Therefore, it is a good idea to have them in your daily diet. Folate is considered a crucial vitamin before and during pregnancy. Research has shown that folate deficiencies during pregnancy can lead to neural tube birth defects in babies.
Folate's functions include:
Age Group (in Years) | Recommended Dietary Allowance | |
---|---|---|
Females | Males | |
1 - 3 | 150 mcg | 150 mcg |
4 - 8 | 200 mcg | 200 mcg |
9 - 13 | 300 mcg | 300 mcg |
14 - 18 | 400 mcg | 400 mcg |
Pregnancy, 14 - 18 | 600 mcg | n/a |
Lactation, 14 - 18 | 500 mcg | n/a |
19 - 50 | 400 mcg | 400 mcg |
Pregnancy, 19 - 50 | 600 mcg | n/a |
Lactation, 19 - 50 | 500 mcg | n/a |
51 - 69 | 400 mcg | 400 mcg |
70 + | 400 mcg | 400 mcg |
mcg=microgram
Folate deficiency is a common vitamin deficiencies. It can occur for a variety of reasons, including:
Symptoms of folate deficiency include:
The tolerable upper intake level (UL) for folate from dietary sources and supplements combined is 1,000 mcg in adults. The upper limit is lower in children (double the recommended daily amount for each age). Folate itself is essentially nontoxic. Large doses of folate can mask symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency. Although folate supplementation will alleviate the megaloblastic anemia caused by the B12 deficiency, the neurologic damage caused by the B12 deficiency will continue undetected.
There is a variety of foods that contain folate. Some foods, like cereal, rice, flour, and cornmeal are fortified with folate. Here is a list of major food sources and their folate content.
Food | Serving Size |
Folate Content
(mcg) |
---|---|---|
Chicken liver, simmered | 3.5 ounces | 770 |
Fortified breakfast cereal | 3/4 cup |
100-400
(check Nutrition Facts label) |
Soy flour | 1 cup | 260 |
Beef liver, braised | 3.5 ounces | 217 |
Chickpeas, canned | 1 cup | 160 |
Pinto beans, canned | 1 cup | 144 |
Spinach, boiled | 1/2 cup | 131 |
Lima beans, canned | 1 cup | 121 |
Papaya | 1 medium | 116 |
Avocado | 1medium | 113 |
Wheat germ, toasted | 1/4 cup | 102 |
Asparagus, boiled | 4 spears | 85 |
Orange juice, fresh | 8 fluid ounces | 75 |
Spinach, raw | 1/2 cup | 54 |
Whole wheat flour | 1 cup | 53 |
Green peas, boiled | 1/2 cup | 50 |
White rice, long-grain | 1/2 cup | 45 |
Orange, navel | 1 medium | 44 |
Peanuts, dry roasted | 1 oz | 41 |
Wheat flour | 1 cup | 40 |
Broccoli, boiled | 1/2 cup | 39 |
Tomatoes, sun-dried | 1 cup | 37 |
Tomato juice, canned | 6 oz | 35 |
Peanut butter, crunchy | 2 tablespoons | 29 |
Cashews, dry roasted | 1 ounce | 20 |
Banana | 1 medium | 20 |
Bread, whole wheat | 1 slice | 15 |
Populations at Risk of Folate Deficiency
The following populations may be at risk of folate deficiency and may require a supplement:
Birth Defects
In 1991, a landmark study found a relationship between folate and birth defects. Subsequent research has supported the finding that adequate folate intake during the period before and just after conception protects against a number of neural tube defects, including spina bifida and anencephaly.
The crucial period is before and very early after conception—a time when most women do not know they are pregnant. Therefore, the recommendation is that all women of childbearing age make sure they have a folate intake of at least 400 mcg.
To help increase your intake of folate:
RESOURCES:
American Dietetic Association
http://www.eatright.org
Food and Nutrition Information Center, US Department of Agriculture
website.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Council on Food and Nutrition
http://www.ccfn.ca
Dietitians of Canada
http://www.dietitians.ca/
References:
Dietary supplement fact sheet: folate. National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/folate.asp. Accessed April 15, 2010.
Duyff RL. The American Dietetic Association's Complete Food & Nutrition Guide. 3rd Ed. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley and Sons, Inc.; 2006.
Facts about dietary supplements. National Institutes of Health website. Available at: http://www.nih.gov/.
Food and Nutrition Information Center, United States Department of Agriculture website. Available at: http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/.
The Nutrition Desk Reference. Keats Publishing; 1995.
Last reviewed April 2010 by Brian Randall, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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