Holisticonline.com - Vitamin B Knowledgebase

Vitamin/ Mineral Name: Vitamin B: Folic Acid

RDA for Men: 200 mcg

RDA for Women: 180 mcg

RDA for Pregnant Women: 400 mcg

RDA for Nursing Women: 280 mcg

Daily Value (DV): 0.4 mg. (400 mcg.)

Benefit: Red blood cell development Tissue growth and repair Lack of folic acid results in diarrhea, gastrointestinal upsets and pernicious anemia (which has both blood and neurological manifestations) Therapeutic doses was found to inhibit Atherosclerosis.

Food Sources: Found in Legumes, Poultry, Tuna, Wheat germ, Mushrooms, Oranges, Asparagus, Broccoli, Spinach, Bananas, Strawberries, Cantaloupe.

Effect of Overdose: This Vitamin is water soluble. The body does not store it to any great extent. Excess amounts are readily removed through urine. Thus for healthy people, this is pretty safe in any reasonable quantity. No medical harm is reported from any overdose.

Description: This vitamin is not very stable. The heat of cooking, storage, exposure to air or light, soaking or prolonged cooking in water etc. destroy them. Alkaline solutions such as baking soda also has a harmful effect on this vitamin.