The importance of Folic acid
Vitamins are substances required by our bodies in small amounts for growth and for normal human general health. Our bodies do not store very much folic acid, (also known as vitamin B9) so we need to have a regular fresh supply. We can usually get the amounts we need from the food that we usually eat. Foods containing folic acid, including spinach, broccoli, peas, brown rice, liver, and may-more. Some people, may not receive enough from their diet alone. And its deficiency can be treated easily by taking a course of folic acid tablets.
As stated by Dettwyler (2008) all people need folic acid, but more important for pregnant women or those who are able to get pregnant. When a woman has enough folic acid, before and during pregnancy, the result of major birth defects in the fetus’s development, which including: Spina bifida and Anencephaly; may be at low risk.
In most cases Spina bifida is one form of birth defects called neural tube defects. These defects usually involves the damage to the spine and spinal cord. This takes place when some vertebrae of the spine don't close properly during pregnancy and the spinal cord's nerves are exposed and damaged. The neural tube is the embryonic structure that develops into the brain and spinal cord. This tube normally folds inward and closes by the 28th day after birth. When it fails to closes completely this causes the defects of the spinal cord and vertebrae.
Anencephaly also known as “open skull,” is a condition present at birth that affects the formation of a fetus's brain and the skull bones surrounding the head. In which the major parts of the brain, scalp, and skull of the fetus do not form completely during developing in the womb. In most cases the brain lacks part of the cerebrum (the area of the brain that is responsible for thinking, vision, hearing, touch, and movement). And this means there is no bony covering over the back of the head and there may also be missing bones around the front and sides of the fetus’s head.

According to McPartlin J (2002) ‘’Fortification of food with folic acid to prevent neural-tube defects in babies also lowers plasma total homocysteine, which is a risk factor for vascular disease.’’ With these result, folic acid has gained recognition for its prevention against neural birth defects. With this extra folic acid is advised for at least the first 12 weeks of pregnancy for all women - even if healthy and have a good diet. A supplement of 400 micrograms of folic acid a day from before conception until the 12th week of pregnancy is recommended. It is best to take extra folic acid before pregnancy, if planed. If unplanned it’s advised to start taking folic acid as soon as the woman realizes she’s pregnant.
Apart from pregnant women lack of folic acid could lead to folate deficiency anaemia. In which the most common form of this condition is iron-deficiency anaemia. This is where by the body lacks enough iron to keep the red blood cells functioning properly, red blood cells take up oxygen in the lungs and carry it to all the body's cells for the production of the body's energy. A defect in this makes it difficult for blood to carry oxygen, causing unusual tiredness and other symptoms.
Folic acid also plays a critical role in the prevention of chromosome breakage and hypomethylation of DNA. This activity is compromised when Vitamin B12 (B12) concentration is low because methionine synthase activity is reduced, lowering the concentration of S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) which in turn may diminish DNA methylation and cause folate to become unavailable for the conversion of dUMP to dTMP, as stated by Micronutrients and Genomic Stability, (published online August 7, 2002). This is way in normal day-day nutritional cycle, the body usually stores enough vitamin B12 to last for approximately two to four years. However, it is mostly advisable and important that you have vitamin B12 in your diet in order to ensure that this store of the vitamin is kept at a healthy constant level.
In consonance with Godfrey (2002) the recommendations of folic acid supplementation alone do not appear to succeed in reducing the incidence, and uncertain if eating foods that contain folate would have the same benefits as consuming folic acid. Also, even if you eat a healthy, well-balanced diet, you might not get all the nutrients you need every day from food alone. In most cases women who eat foods enriched with folic acid are still not getting all that they need. That’s why it’s important to take a vitamin with folic acid every day.

REFERENCES * McPartlin J. (2002). Folic acid and woman. The Lancet, (359), (9302), 227–228. * MRC Vitamin Study Research Group. (1991). Prevention of neural tube defects. Lancet.(338),131-137 * Fenech M. and Ferguson.Mutation L.R. (2001). Micronutrients and Genomic Stability. Research/Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutagenesis, (475), (1–2), 57–67. * Godfrey P and Oakley Jr. (2002). Increase folic acid fortification. CMAJ publisher, (167), (23).237-240 * Katherine A and Dettwyler K. (2008). Reason for lower rates of NTDs in "black" populations, Pediatrics publisher. (121), (2), 419-432