If you are planning on conceiving or are not taking adequate contraceptive measures where you are potentially going to conceive - then you should proactively take 600ug Folic Acid daily to prevent neural tube defects. Inadequate folic acid levels during the early stage of a pregnancy can increase the likelihood of miscarriage and potential neural tube defects. This is why it is important to take the folic acid prior to conceiving. Folic Acid supplementatoin of minimum 600ug daily is required.

Yes, that has been the perceived wisdom for some time Amo but did you also know that the taking of Folic acid by both men and women is thought to have some correlation to the prevention of brain degenerative disease? I have been taking one a day for years now, and although the family might not agree, I am still quite sane and hope to remain that way!

This is an extract of the report by the BBC that started me taking FA back in 2005:

Eating plenty of folic acid - found in oranges, lemons and green vegetables - can halve the risk of Alzheimer's disease, a study has suggested.

US National Institute on Ageing experts monitored diets over seven years.

They found adults who ate the daily recommended allowance of folates (B vitamin nutrients) had a reduced risk of the disease.

UK researchers said the study added weight to previous suggestions folates could reduce Alzheimer's risk.

The evidence for the benefit of other vitamins in changing the prospects for somebody at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is not consistent; the evidence supporting folate intake is very convincing

Dr Susanne Sorensen, Alzheimer's Society
The study is published in Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association.

Folates have already been proven to reduce birth defects, and research suggests that they are beneficial to warding off heart disease and strokes.

They have also been shown to help modify levels of homocysteine - an amino acid found in the blood.

Previous research has linked high levels of homocysteine to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Dietary benefits

In this latest US study, doctors analysed data on the diets of 579 people aged 60 or over from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Ageing to identify the relationship between dietary factors and Alzheimer's disease risk.

None of the participants were showing signs of dementia when the study began.

Over the course of the study, participants provided detailed diaries documenting their eating habits, including supplement intakes and calorie amounts for typical seven-day periods.

Researchers examined the amounts of nutrients including vitamins E, C, B6, B12, carotenoids and folic acid in people's diets.

Fifty-seven of the original participants went on to develop Alzheimer's.

The researchers found those who consumed at least the recommended daily amount of 400 micrograms of folic acid had a 55% reduced risk of going on to develop Alzheimer's compared to those consuming under that amount.

However, most of those were taking folic acid supplements, suggesting they did not consume sufficient quantities of the nutrient in their diet.

It is estimated that the average person in Britain consumes around 200mcg per day.

The US study found no link between taking vitamin C, carotenoids (such as beta-carotene) or vitamin B-12 and decreased Alzheimer's risk.

'Further evidence'

Dr Maria Corrada, who led the research, said: "Although folates appear to be more beneficial than other nutrients, the primary message should be that overall healthy diets seem to have an impact on limiting Alzheimer's disease risk."

Dr Claudia Kawas, who also worked on the research, said: "It is still possible that other unmeasured factors also may be responsible for this reduction in risk.

"People with a high intake of one nutrient are likely to have a high intake of several other nutrients and may generally have a healthy lifestyle."

Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the UK's Alzheimer's Society, said: "This study adds further weight to evidence that folates reduce the risk of people developing Alzheimer's disease.

She added: "Whereas the evidence for the benefit of other vitamins in changing the prospects for somebody at risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is not consistent; the evidence supporting folate intake is very convincing."

Well, I don't think it can do any harm so hopefully it will do me some good!

peggy - that is very useful. taking folic acid to prevent brain degeneration - i think i should start taking one a day now - or even maybe can take the folic acid as part of a multi-vitamin tablet - how many micrograms daily is recommended??

Hello again Amo

Yes the dose is the same dose that pregnant or women wishing to become pregnant take.

In fact on the tub that I get from the supermarket it is listed as
400 µg tablets which is:

5 mg = 5000 µg, slightly more than 12 x 400 µg.

No way of knowing if it is working for course, except - watch this space!

I think that Folic acid is a very under recognised agent, I have heard that a deficiency of it, although it may not make a dramatic impact in the way that a lack of iron does for instance has been linked to the development of all sorts of things like mouth ulcers for instance. Since taking a tablet can do no harm and it is not very expensive, I am very keen on it!