Health assessment of folic acid

Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin that occurs naturally in many foods but is also produced synthetically. The naturally occurring folate-effective compounds in food are also referred to as folate. Liver, green vegetables such as spinach or broccoli, pulses, wheat germ, whole grain products, yeast, egg yolk, citrus fruits and citrus fruit juice are particularly rich in folates. Synthetically produced folic acid is used in food supplements, fortified foods or in medicines.

Folic acid is involved in a large number of metabolic processes and is therefore important for all cell division and growth processes. Deficiencies can cause symptoms such as anaemia, digestive disorders and changes to the mucous membranes. Folic acid is also needed by the unborn child to ensure that the neural tube closes properly.

The normal requirement of folic acid can be covered by a balanced and varied diet. However, studies show that only a small part of the population eats this way. As a consequence, many people do not take in enough folic acid.

The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment recommends a folic acid-rich diet for all consumers, which women planning for pregnancy and women in the first trimester should supplement with folic acid preparations. It should be noted that the folic acid requirement is also increased in the further course of pregnancy and during breastfeeding.