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Ever since it was first extracted from common spinach leaf folic acid has been found to have an increasing number of uses. Originally folic acid was discovered to help correct the anemia women sometimes developed during pregnancy and later it was used to help correct anemia from other causes including a deficiency in other vitamins. Although it wasn't a replacement for these other vitamins it certainly was found to be very effective at treating anemia due to all kinds of causes.

Folic acid is involved in the replication of our DNA and RNA and it was quickly found that those taking folic acid for anemia had less chance of giving birth to babies with certain birth defects. These defects are Spina Bifida and other neural tube defects, cleft lip and palate and limb defects. In fact folic acid is so effective at its job in maintaining DNA that doctors estimate half of the nearly four thousand babies born with neural tube defects yearly develop the defects due to a folic acid deficiency. Imagine being able to cut that number in half just by making sure that women have enough folic acid in their diets.

More recently there was a connection found between folic acid, homocysteine and certain diseases. Homocysteine is a by-product of the metabolizing of protein that we take in in our food. More specifically it is released when the body breaks down methionine, which is an amino acid and a component of protein.

Homocysteine is toxic to the lining of our blood vessels and though its a part of the breakdown process of protein, normally we have enough folic acid present in our systems to help convert homocysteine into another compound. Those who have a deficiency of folic acid can also develop a high level of homocysteine over long periods of time.

So by taking folic acid or making sure it is in the diet it is possible to help prevent a build up of homocysteine in the blood. The damage to the blood vessel walls caused by homocysteine leads to arteriosclerosis or a stiffening of the walls.

Arteriosclerosis can lead to other cardiovascular diseases by making the heart pump harder, and keeping parts of the body from getting enough blood and oxygen. This also leads to an increased risk of heart attack.

Also there have recently been links made between high levels of homocysteine and Cancer, Arthritis, and Osteoporosis. Currently there are studies being made to try and determine whether homocysteine is one of the causes of these conditions or if it is simply an indicator or symptom of these conditions.

So you can use folic acid to help prevent:

* Anemia
* Certain Birth Defects
* Cardiovascular disease
* And possibly some forms of dementia (including Alzheimers),
* Cancer,
* Arthritis,
* And Osteoporosis.

The recommended daily intake for folic acid is currently four hundred micrograms. A woman who is pregnant, could become pregnant or is lactating should take between six hundred and eight hundred micrograms of folic acid daily.

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