Folic Acid: Sources, Health Effects & Role in Disease Prevention

This book reviews and discusses the most relevant epidemiological aspects of OFCs and its prevention. It evaluates the role of folate and other factors in preventing OFC by analysing the health and socio-demographic data collected from a population sample. Individuals that are deficient in folates are suggested to have increase vulnerability to disease, including neurological conditions. Folates are involved in the metabolism of homocysteine which is a sulfur containing non-protein amino acid. This book will also highlight the recent advances made in understanding the effect of dietary folic acid over supplementation on neurological function. Patients with low levels of folic acid and other B vitamins, metabolism disorders, and renal failure have frequently high homocysteine levels that have been especially associated with cardiovascular and bone disease. This book reviews and analyzes the most important results about the effects of folic acid supplementation on clinical targets and it focuses on the effects of folic acid therapy on clinical outcomes of chronic renal failure patients with high homocysteine levels.