Folate supplement is beneficial for pregnant women or become pregnant to prevent neurologic damage risk to her fetus, and other benefits such as reducing the risk of blindness.

Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that occurs naturally in food and very useful to body health. Several sources of folate including spinach, turnip greens and other green vegetables, citrus fruits and juices, dried beans and pears.

Meanwhile, folic acid is also folate in form of synthetic products.

Since folic acid often used in ischemic heart disease patients in order to improve cardiovascular outcomes, recent study said that it won’t work. In fact, it could increase cancer incidence, cancer mortality, and all-cause mortality.

Marta Ebbing, MD., led of current study from Haukeland University Hospital in Bergen, Norway said that although their findings need further studies to confirm their results, but their study found that folic acid can not lower the risk of heart disease.

Although epidemiologic studies showed that folic acid can lower serum homocystein levels, which is high serum homocysteine levels are associated in increasing heart disease risk and hoping by reducing its level can reduce the risk, but the fact is not turn out that way.

But, from other accompanying editorial, Betina F. Drake, PhD, MPH and Graham Colditz, MD, DrPH, both from the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri, pointed out that folate supplementation used in the study was conducted in individual with heart disease and was of limited duration.

As reference, cancer incidence and mortality in this study was mainly driven by an increase in lung cancer incidence. And, 94% of the subjects who developed lung cancer were either current or former smokers.

Despite current finding need more studies to confirm the effects in ischemic heart disease patients and since folic acid currently widespread in food fortification and dietary supplement, the authors suggested safety monitoring regarding to folic acid use.

FDA published regulation requiring the addition of folic acid to enriched breads, cereals, flours, corn meals, pastas, rice, and other grain products in 1996.
Whole this products now very popular consumption in the US as “diet food”.