Folic Acid

Excerpt

Folic acid (vitamin B9) is a water-soluble vitamin used to manage and treat megaloblastic anemia. Folic acid has FDA approval for treating megaloblastic and macrocytic anemias due to folic deficiency. This activity describes the indications, mechanism of action, and contraindications for folic acid as a valuable agent in managing megaloblastic anemia and preventing other disorders. One of the beneficial roles of folate appears to be its ability to reduce homocysteine levels in neural tube defects. In addition, this activity will highlight the adverse event profile and other key factors (eg, off-label uses, dosing, monitoring, relevant interactions) pertinent to healthcare teams dealing with conditions that can benefit from supplemental folic acid.