You may have heard that folic acid helps women have a healthy pregnancy. But did you know that researchers are finding links between this B vitamin and the prevention of a range of medical conditions? Here are just a few examples.
Cancer
When it comes to preventing some kinds of cancer, early research looks promising. For instance, one team found that women with a family history of colon cancer were half as likely to develop the disease themselves if they were taking the recommended daily amount of folic acid.
Heart disease
Doctors know that a high blood level of homocysteine, an amino acid in our bodies, is a factor in cardiovascular disease. Since folic acid appears to lower homocystine, it seems to play a role in preventing heart disease.
Stroke
Increased intake of folic acid has also been found to significantly reduce the risk of stroke. This is also thought to be due to its homocysteine-lowering effect.
Alzheimer's disease
Some evidence suggests that there may be a link between low levels of folic acid and Alzheimer's disease, or dementia. More studies need to be done to find out if people who take folic acid can reduce their risk of dementia.
Parkinson's disease
Experiments with mice suggest that a folic acid deficiency may be a risk factor for Parkinson's disease. But the jury's still out. Another study failed to show that people with a higher intake of folic acid had a lower risk of Parkinson's disease.
Restless legs syndrome
This neurological disorder causes uncomfortable feelings in the legs, and an urge to move the legs around to make them feel better. Since it's usually worse when lying down and relaxing, it can make sleep difficult. Now researchers think that restless legs syndrome might sometimes be a signal that your levels of folic acid are too low, and that a folic acid supplement may help.
A great deal of this research remains in the early stages. That means you can't expect to prevent every one of these medical problems simply by stocking up on supplements. And for safety reasons, you should never take more folic acid than your doctor recommends. Nevertheless, we do know that folic acid has a key role to play in our health. So it's well worth becoming a fan of folic acid!