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Vitamin B9

The terms vitamin B9, folic acid and folate are often used interchangeably. While folates are found in foods as well as in metabolically active forms in the human body (1), folic acid, the more stable form, occurs rarely in nature but is the form most often used in vitamin supplements and fortified foods.

Authored by Dr Peter Engel in 2010, reviewed and revised by  Angelika Friedel on 29.06.2017 

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Things to know about Vitamin B9

  • Other Applications

    Some studies show that 15–38% of people with depression have low vitamin B9 (folate) levels in their bodies, and those with very low levels tend to be the most depressed. Read More

  • Supply Situation

    In most European countries, the average vitamin B9 (folate) intake does not meet national recommendations. Read More

  • Deficiency

    Early stage symptoms of vitamin B9 (folate) deficiency may not show obvious symptoms but it can lead to folic acid deficiency anemia. Read More

  • Sources

    Foods rich in vitamin B9 (folate) include cooked spinach, asparagus, lentils, and fruit juice. Read More

  • Safety

    No adverse effects have been associated with the consumption of excess vitamin B9 (folate) from foods. Concerns regarding safety are limited to synthetic folic acid intake. Read More