•Adult intakes average 292 – 359 [95% CI
91-754] ug/day
•
•Food sources: grains (33%), vegets, potatoes:
suppls M/F 5/13%
•
•Deficiency: poor diet, coeliac disease,
alcohol excess, elderly
•
•Multivit/minerals contain 200-400 ug per day
[5 mg on script]
routinely given to
prevent NTD pregnancy [400-5000 ug/day]
•
•Added to staple foods in over 52 countries not yet in
UK
•
•Easily absorbed, excess excreted as
unmetabolised folic acid UMFA
•
•Acute toxicity: none
•
•Chronic toxicity: possible due to
Might mask
haematological effects of vitamin B12 deficiency
Un-Metabolised Folic
Acid may disrupt normal folate metabolism
Growth promoting effect on some
tumors
cf Methotrexate is an anti-folate,
anti-cancer drug
•
•Supplements are given (5 mg x 1 /week) to 600,000 adults
in the UK receiving methotrexate
for RA and IBD