Folic Acid Increases Mental Agility

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The scientists found that the group who took the folic acid improved on all aspects of cognitive functioning compared to the group that took the placebo.

Folic acid is a water soluble B vitamin and is found in yeast extract, green leafy vegetables, for example spinach, in dried beans and peas, some organ meats such as liver, fortified cereals, certain fruit and vegetables, and certain seeds, for example sunflower seeds. It plays an important role in the production of new cells, especially in the spinal cord an embryo, which is why it is important that pregnant women have their reference daily intake (RDI).

Adults and children need folic acid to generate red blood cells and DNA, and insufficient daily intake can result in anemia. The vitamin also helps to digest protein and make effective use of the resulting amino acids, and also to produce proteins that the body may be lacking. It also plays a role in regulating appetite.

Because of the discovery of the link between neural tube defects (NTD, such as that occurring in infants born with spina bifida), and insufficient folic acid governments have gradually introduced regulations that require certain foods to be fortified with folic acid, such as cereals, and in some countries bread and flour also.

Different countries recommend different RDI amounts, ranging from 400 micrograms a day in the US to 200 in Japan.

Some research studies have linked folic acid supplement taking with reductions in various age-related impairments such as hearing loss and Alzheimer's. Others are not so clear, but there seems to be consensus that it helps improve cognitive function in elderly people with high concentrations of the amino acid homocysteine in their blood, which could indicate increased riks of stroke, heart disease and Alzheimer's.

Concerns have been raised that folic acid interacts with Vitamin B12 and taking too much of it can cause problems, such as masking a deficiency in B12. This is particularly relevant to older people (over 50), who should ask their doctor to check their vitamin B12 levels if they considering taking folic acid supplements.

Eat five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables a day, and augment your diet with a high-quality supplement like TriVita’s Sublingual B-12, B-6 & Folic Acid. Providing over 100% of the recommended daily intake for B-12, B-6 and folic acid—and delivering these nutrients directly into your bloodstream—TriVita’s Sublingual B-12, B-6 & Folic Acid can help protect you and your loved ones from Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia.

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