Folic acid and deficiency diseases

ABSTRACT

Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, which is involved in hematopoiesis and the synthesis of amino acids and DNA. It is widely used for the treatment of megaloblastic anemia. Tetrahydrofolic acid is the fully reduced form of folic acid and is the parent compound of a variety of coenzymes that serve as carriers of one-carbon groups in metabolic reactions. The daily use of supplemental folic acid periconceptionally significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects. The genetic polymorphisms affecting the structure-function of folate-related enzymes have been associated with the increased risk of birth defects and chronic diseases including vascular diseases and different types of cancers. Therapeutic use of folic acid has been found to greatly reduce the prevalence of these diseases