Folic acid, also known as folate or Vitamin B9, is a member of the B vitamin family and an essential cofactor for enzymes involved in DNA and RNA synthesis. More specifically, folic acid is required by the body for the synthesis of purines, pyrimidines, and methionine before incorporation into DNA or protein. Folic acid is particularly important during phases of rapid cell division, such as infancy, pregnancy, and erythropoiesis, and plays a protective factor in the development of cancer. As humans are unable to synthesize folic acid endogenously, diet and supplementation is necessary to prevent deficiencies. For example, folic acid is present in green vegetables, beans, avocado, and some fruits.[L5744] In order to function within the body, folic acid must first be reduced by the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) into the cofactors dihydrofolate (DHF) and tetrahydrofolate (THF). This important pathway, which is required for de novo synthesis of nucleic acids and amino acids, is disrupted by anti-metabolite therapies such as [DB00563] as they function as DHFR inhibitors to prevent DNA synthesis in rapidly dividing cells, and therefore prevent the formation of DHF and THF. When used in high doses such as for cancer therapy, or in low doses such as for Rheumatoid Arthritis or psoriasis, [DB00563] impedes the body's ability to create folic acid. This results in a deficiency of coenzymes and a resultant buildup of toxic substances that are responsible for numerous adverse side effects. As a result, supplementation with 1-5mg of folic acid is recommended to prevent deficiency and a number of side effects associated with MTX therapy including mouth ulcers and gastrointestinal irritation. [DB00650] (also known as folinic acid) supplementation is typically used for high-dose MTX regimens for the treatment of cancer. Levoleucovorin and leucovorin are analogs of tetrahydrofolate (THF) and are able to bypass DHFR reduction to act as a cellular replacement for the co-factor THF. There are also several antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) that are associated with reduced serum and red blood cell folate, including [DB00564] (CBZ), [DB00252] (PHT), or barbiturates.[A37004] Folic acid is therefore often provided as supplementation to individuals using these medications, particularly to women of child-bearing age. Inadequate folate levels can result in a number of health concerns including cardiovascular disease, megaloblastic anemias, cognitive deficiencies, and neural tube defects (NTDs). Folic acid is typically supplemented during pregnancy to prevent the development of NTDs and in individuals with alcoholism to prevent the development of neurological disorders, for example.
NESTABS ABC Prenatal Multi-vitamin/Mineral Supplement with DHA/EPA
PreNatal 19
For-2
Folika-T
Chewable Multiple Vit Plus Iron for Children
Vitalife - Capsule
Prenatrix
Prenaissance
Zolate
PreNatal Vitamins Plus
Folica-V
PreTAB
Balanced B-50 B-complex Vitamins Tab
Remedient
Dia-vite
Multiple Vitamins Tab
NuFera
PR Natal 400 ec
Myferon 150 Forte
Poly Vi Flor Chewable Tab
Kindervites
Iron Fumarate and Aspartate, Glycinate, Ascorbic Calcium, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Calcium Threonate and Succinic Acid
Vita Day Tab
Balanced B50 Complex
Prefera OB plus DHA
Acti-folic + Dibencozide Caplets
Efferlife Multivitamins and Minerals
Multivitamins for Children
Natalvirt 90dha
Cool B
Lorid
PR Natal 430
Multi Vitamin & Minerals
Ocuvel
Multi Plex II - Tab
Pro Hers Vanilla
Bal-Care DHA
TL-Fol 500
Vitamin B Compound Tab
Ferrex 150 Forte
Virt-Vite Plus
Multivitamines Et Mineraux Reguliers / Regular Multivitamins and Minerals
For Kids Only Chewable Multivitamins
Strovite Forte Caplet
Hematogen Forte
Bio-fen
Folic Acid
KeyFolic
Childrens Chewab Vitamin W Chel Minerals
Renate
Multiple Vitamins Plus Iron for Women
Foliflex
Milltrium Senior Vitamin and Mineral Supplement
Prenatal
Alkadrenergy Tablets
Multra With Iron
Neomultivite
Irospan 24/6
Stressmates
Mega Balance
T.R.I. B-plex Src
Homosismin
Complete Mega B
Lexazin
Folika-D
Tulivite
Ferotrin
PNV Prenatal Vitamin
Sodium polysulthionate and folic acid
TriStart FREE
Kid's Choice Children's Chewable Vitamins - Tab
Mvc
B50 B Complex Tab
Zatean-Pn DHA
Vital Be-100
Hemocyte Plus
Edge OB
Acide Folique 5 Tab
Thrivite 19
Balanced B-50 Complex
Chewable Children's Complete Multivitamins With Essential Minerals
Focalgin B
Phytovim Cap
Niva-Plus
Innersource Tab
Dexivite
Corvita
Pnv-dha
Replavite
Nutra-Z
Vitafol Caplet
Hypo Vites Tab
Focalgin 90 DHA
Children's Vitamins W Iron Chewable
Vigo Multivitamins Drops/lozenge
Dialyvite Supreme D
Noxifol-D
Folcaps
Stress B With 1000 Mg Vitamin C
NicAzel
EnBrace HR
Corvite FE
Multiple Vitamins & Minerals Tablets
One-A-day Advance Fem - Tablets
Osteo Formula
Hill.vite
Somavit Brand Vitamins and Minerals Complex
Active OB
Folic Acid With Vitamin B12 and Vitamin C
B-complex Tab
FUSION Sprinkles
Childrens Chewable Multiple Vitamins Plus Fe
Triveen-Duo DHA
Dr. AVi MULTIVITAMIN with Zinc, Real Ginger, Lemon and Lemongrass
Folic acid
Revit Multi-vitamins and Minerals
Trinatal Rx 1
RenaPlex
Nexa Select
Natavite
Folinex
Childrens Chewable Tab
Duet DHA 400 ec
PNV-Select
Hsn Formula
WesTab Plus
Super B12 + Folic Acid
Ferralet 90
Iron, Vit & Min Supp
Multi Enfants Tab
Premium Prenatal
E.S.T. Complex
PreferaOB ONE
Rulavite DHA
Keylosa
Cavan Folate DHA
VITAFOL Gummies
Reaphirm Plant Source DHA
Vp-heme Ob
Am Caps
Hematogen FA
FolaMax
Multivit with Fluoride
Natalvirt FLT
Pregvit Folic 4
Renate DHA
PreNexa
SetonET-EC
Tandem Plus
Se-Tan PLUS
Amerix Multivitamin
B-plex
Integra F
Se-Vate 21/7
TriAdvance
Neonatal Plus Vitamin
Vitamin B Complex 50
Chela Potassium Plus
Gesticare DHA
Olympian Multi Vit Plus Minerals Tab
VIL-Rx
Active FE
Foltrate
Folet One
Florafol FE Pediatric 0.25 mg/mL Multivitamin and Fluoride Liquid Drops
Multra Plex
For Kids Only Chewable Multivitamins - Tab
Prena1 Plus
Super Kids Chewable Multivitamin Multimineral (chewable Tablets)
Virt Nate
For Kids Only Chewable Multivit. Plus Iron
Iron Aspartate Glycinate and Polysaccharide Complex, Ascorbic Calcium, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, Calcium Threonate and Succinic Acid
Paire OB Plus DHA
Prenatal Vitamin and Mineral Supplement -tab
Multiple Vitamins
Vitazyme
NicAzelFORTE
Se-Care Conceive
Classic Swiss One 10 Multivitamin and Mineral Tab
Liqui B Complex
Stress B Capsules With Vitamin C
Vitafol Fe Plus
Multi Vitamin - Mineral
Virt-PN DHA
Hi Potency B Complex W Chelated Minerals
Cavan-EC SOD DHA
FeRiva 21 7
B-complex
Multiple Vitamins Plus Iron - Tab
Genicin Vita-D
Multivitamin
Prenatvite Plus
Formula Inf
Folic Acid 0.8mg
Thrivite Rx
Multi-force for Adults Tab
Amladex
Bev 29 Tab
Jamp-folic Acid
Multi-11
Multivitamins and Minerals for Young Men
Multivitamins and Minerals for Young Women
Card-floe II Tab
Usana Megavitamin Tablets - Tab
Vitamin B Compound W C Tab 500mg
Daily Balance Tab
FE C Tab Plus
Folic Acid Injection USP
OB Complete Petite
Femitab Tab
FeRiva FA
Dialyvite with Zinc
Pnv-VP-U
ahoSAN
Focalgin CA
Stress Tab With Iron and Vitamin E
Xvite
Folvite Tab 5mg
Corvite 150
Children's Chewable Multi-vitamin Complete With Minerals
Folic Acid 1mg With Vitamin C
Animi-3 with Vitamin D
Indication
Folic acid is indicated for the treatment of folic acid deficiency, megaloblastic anemia, and in anemias of nutritional origins, pregnancy, infancy, or childhood.
Drug Info/Drug Targets: DrugBank 3.0: a comprehensive resource for 'omics' research on drugs. Knox C, Law V, Jewison
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