Cell growth and preventing neural tube defects.
Well studied
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Folic acid. Drag to turn it.
What the research says
Women who could become pregnant should get 400 mcg folic acid daily to lower neural tube defect risk. Folic acid lowers homocysteine but does not reduce cardiovascular disease overall, though it may protect against stroke.
High folic acid intake can hide vitamin B12 deficiency until nerve damage is hard to reverse.
About "most pills": NIH ODS: common adult supplement doses are 400 to 800 mcg folic acid (680 to 1,360 mcg DFE).
Sources: ods.od.nih.gov
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