Folate Introduction

Folate is a variety of vitamin B which is water-soluble and formerly known as Vitamin B9, one of the major elements supporting humans to maintain human health and improves human metabolism. Folate is expected to function as key in the metabolism of nucleic acids and amino acids too. Folate is technically termed as Pteroylglutamic acid, which is differently termed as Folvite, folacin, Acifolic, Vitamin M, and Folcidin. 

Lucy Wills has observed the nutritional importance of vitamin B9 or folate in the year 1931 when she was performing her research in Bombay, India, on pregnant women. Her studies made a note that these pregnant ladies were macrocytic anemia patients. Vitamin B9 was first observed from the variety of green leafy vegetables Spinach in the year 1941. The pure crystalline form of the Folate was invented by Stokstad in the year 1943.  

Folate is chemically structured as 2 amino-4hydroxy-pteridine linked with the methylene bridge to p-aminobenzoyl group. This turned through amide linkage into polyglutamate or glutamic acid. Synthetic folate is widely used in the preparation of food substances which are essential for human health and used as supplements for health disordered public. These folates are isolated and approved by scientists for balancing human life with all the essential elements for the health of humans. 

Role of Folate in Human Health & Nutrition

Folate is one of the water-soluble vitamins which is also popular as Vitamin B9 and it is touted to be one of the dietary supplements present which is naturally present in numerous food substances. This vitamin has numerous health and nutrition benefits in human life. Here are a few foods listed for easy understanding in this page. Food substances such as Broccoli, Spinach, garden asparagus and non-vegetarian foods such as egg and liver are a few rich in Folate or vitamin B9. One should not forget the benefits of folate in their regular diet.

Folate is necessary for the making of red and white blood cells which are playing a key role in the bone marrow. Conversion of carbohydrates to energy can be done using it and production of DNA, RNA and bone marrow can be done by regular intake of Folate. Regular intake of Folate supports females during periods which makes pregnancy, infancy easy and energetic for adolescence too. Coming to the folate-rich fruits banana, orange, beetroot, papaya, and Avacado are rich sources.

Folate is essential in curing the anemic patients which are rich sources of Dried peas, beans, whole wheat products too. Hence its time to select the intake of Folate rich foods in daily routine to be healthy and nutritious rich life.