Folic acid is a synthetic version of the vitamin folate, also known as vitamin B9, which helps the body make healthy red blood cells and is found in certain foods. In adults, folic acid is used for preventing and treating low blood levels of folate (folate deficiency) and high blood levels of homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia) . It is also used for many other conditions including depression, stroke, decline in memory and thinking skills, and many others. Here are some specific uses of folic acid in adults:

• Folate deficiency: Taking folic acid improves folate deficiency.
• High levels of homocysteine in the blood (hyperhomocysteinemia): This condition has been linked to heart disease and stroke. Taking folic acid by mouth lowers homocysteine levels in people with normal or high homocysteine levels and in people with kidney failure.
• Toxicity caused by the drug methotrexate: Taking folic acid by mouth seems to reduce nausea and vomiting from methotrexate treatment.
• Low levels of healthy red blood cells (anemia) due to iron deficiency: Adding folic acid to an iron supplement does not help to treat anemia any better than taking an iron supplement alone.
• Decline in memory and thinking skills that occurs normally with age: Taking folic acid by mouth doesnt seem to prevent a decline in mental function that occurs normally in healthy aging adults.

It is important to note that women of childbearing age should receive adequate amounts of folic acid either through their diet or supplements to prevent infant spinal cord birth defects. Folic acid is safe to take during pregnancy when used as directed and is included in prenatal vitamin products.