Folate Description
Folate -
Folate and
folic acid are forms of a water-soluble B vitamin. Folate occurs
naturally in food. Folic acid is the synthetic form of this vitamin
and is found in supplements and fortified foods. Folate gets its
name from the Latin word "folium" for leaf. A key observation of
researcher Lucy Wills nearly 70 years ago led to the identification
of folate as the nutrient needed to prevent anemia related to
pregnancy. Folate was identified as the corrective substance in
yeast extract in the late 1930s and was extracted from spinach
leaves in 1941. Folate is also necessary for the production and
maintenance of new cells. This is especially important during
periods of rapid cell division and growth such as infancy and
pregnancy. Folate is needed to make DNA and RNA, the building blocks
of cells. It also helps prevent changes to DNA that may lead to
cancer. Both adults and children need folate to make normal red
blood cells and to prevent anemia.
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