Essential vitamin that is obtained from the food and produced by the intestinal microflora. The vitamin is aimed at normalize the performance of many organs:

1. Formation of new cells. Vitamin is necessary for DNA synthesis, that is, not a single new cell in the body can appear without folic acid involvement.
2. Correct functioning of blood cells. Folic acid is essential for the creation of complete blood cells - erythrocytes (oxygen carriers) and leukocytes (immune cells). The life of erythrocytes decreases without folic acid (folate deficiency anemia is developed) and leukocytes partially lose their ability to incapacitate the microorganisms.
3. Density of the vessel wall. This vitamin ensures the normal metabolism of toxic amino acid homocysteine (refer section "homocysteine"), when excess concentration is found the vessel wall becomes loose and weak, while many organs are affected.
4. Ensuring the normal pregnancy history. This vitamin helps the baby to avoid many birth defects, such as neural tube defects, heart defects and harelip.  Its deficiency may cause eclampsia, premature birth, or even an unintentional abortion. There is evidence that children whose mothers did not take enough folic acid during pregnancy have high risk of metabolic syndrome (obesity)
5. Ensuring the male’s reproductive function. Folic acid is involved in spermatogenesis (formation of new sperm). Therefore, men shall get enough folic acid in their diet to avoid male infertility.
6. Ensuring human mental health. Folic acid affects the serotonin and norepinephrine (substances necessary for the brain to function). There have been scientific studies examining the relationship between depression and folate deficiency. Based on the study of 15,315 patients, a pattern was found between vitamin deficiency and depression.
7. Maintain eye health. According to the study of the scientists (2009), the risk of retinal dystrophy decreased by 34,7% in women taking dietary supplements with folic acid.

Since the reserves of folic acid in the body are sharply limited, the signs of vitamin deficiency can be fund already after 1 to 6 months, after limiting its intake into the body. For instance, a vivid clinical picture of folate deficiency anemia appears after 20 weeks only.