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Vitamin B9 Daily Intake

Gender Age Intake
0-6 months Male 65 mсg/day
0-6 months Female 65 mсg/day
7-12 months Male 80 mсg/day
7-12 months Female 80 mсg/day
1-3 years Male 150 mсg/day
1-3 years Female 150 mсg/day
4-8 years Male 200 mсg/day
4-8 years Female 200 mсg/day
9-13 years Male 300 mсg/day
9-13 years Female 300 mсg/day
14 years and older Male 400 mсg/day
14 years and older Female 400 mсg/day
Pregnant women Female 600 mсg/day
Lactating women Female 500 mсg/day

This vitamin, also known as folate, folacin and folic acid, is contained mostly in plants and is produced by the microflora of the intestine. Folate is found in natural sources, and folic acid is synthesized artificially. In some countries this vitamin is called Bc.

Useful Properties

Vitamin B9 is essential for the normal growth and function of the body. It takes part in the blood formation and action of the digestive system. Folate is also necessary for producing DNA, cell division, and synthesis of amino-acids, nucleic acids, serotonin, and noradrenaline.

Folic acid has a beneficial effect on the lipometabolism in the liver, cholesterol exchange, and other important processes in the body. It improves appetite and makes the skin look healthy.

Vitamin B9 is widely used for treating and preventing numerous health conditions, such as depression, jumpy legs, memory loss, nerve pain, Alzheimer’s disease, liver disease, sleep problems, age-related hearing loss, osteoporosis, AMD, AIDS, vitiligo, muscle pain, ulcerative colitis, alcoholism, and Fragile-X syndrome.

People sometimes use it for preventing cervical cancer, heart disease, coloncancer, high homocysteine levels, and heart stroke.

Folate is efficient in reducing side effects of taking methotrexate and lometrexol.

Vitamin B9 Deficiency

Lack of folacin can be caused by deficit of protein and vitamins B6, C, and B12 in the diet. Liver disease, alcoholism, radiation sickness and taking antibiotics also can lead to its deficiency, characterized by apathy, depression, anemia, stomatitis, gastritis, enteretis, and stomatorrhagia.

Vitamin B9 Side Effects

High doses of vitamin B9 can cause rash, excitability, abdominal cramps, stomach upset, diarrhea, seizures, behavior changes, sleep disorders, confusion, nausea, skin reactions, irritability, gas, and many other side effects.

Vitamin B9 Absorption

Folic acid is well-absorbed from most food sources and supplements.

Recommendations

Pregnant and breast-feeding women need more vitamin B9.


Vitamin B9 Uses

Effective for
Folate deficiency
Possibly effective for
Depression, High blood pressure, Gum disease in women who are pregnant, Stroke, Serious kidney disease , Toxicity caused by the drug methotrexate, Birth defects of the brain and spine
Possibly ineffective for
Breast cancer, Heart disease, Cataracts, Chronic fatigue syndrome , Diarrhea, Fall prevention, Death of an unborn or premature baby, Cancer of the white blood cells , Toxicity from the drug lometrexol, Weak and brittle bones , Physical performance in elderly adults, Infection of the airways, Preterm birth
Insufficient evidence for
Acne, Alzheimer disease, Autism, Bipolar disorder, Cancer of the cervix, Long-term kidney disease , Colon cancer, rectal cancer, Heart problems at birth, Diabetes, Epilepsy, Cancer of the esophagus, Stomach cancer, Gout, Head and neck cancer, Hearing loss, Lung cancer, Male infertility, The most serious type of skin cancer , Cleft lip and cleft palate, Pancreatic cancer, Nerve damage in the hands and feet , A type of throat cancer , High blood pressure during pregnancy, Schizophrenia, Sickle-cell disease, Alcoholism, Liver disease

Top 10 Foods Highest in Vitamin B9

  • Lettuce
  • Spinach
  • Parsley
  • Onion
  • Beans
  • Carrots
  • Cauliflower
  • Blackcurrant
  • Brewer’s yeast
  • Egg yolks