Folic Acid
What To Think About
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet to get the Reference daily recommended intake of folic acid to prevent Reference folic acid deficiency anemia Opens New Window. Many foods have folic acid, such as citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, and vitamin-fortified cereals.
- You might need to take a folic acid supplement if you have anemia and cannot get enough folic acid from food. Your doctor can tell you if you need to take a supplement.
- Reference Taking folic acid before and during pregnancy can lower the chance of having a baby with a birth defect.
- The folic acid test is often done at the same time as a test for Reference vitamin B12 Opens New Window. For more information, see the topic Reference Vitamin B12.
- For more information on folic acid deficiency anemia and what foods have folic acid, see the topic Reference Folic Acid Deficiency Anemia.
| By: | Reference Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: Reference December 20, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Reference E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Reference Brian Leber, MDCM, FRCPC - Hematology |
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