What is the difference between folate and folic acid?

Although there is a distinct difference between the two, their names are often used interchangeably, and there is a great deal of confusion even among professionals regarding folic acid and folate. Vitamin B9 is a vital vitamin that occurs in nature in the form of folate.
It performs many important functions in the body. For example, it plays a crucial role in cell growth and DNA formation.

Folate

Folate is a collective term for a group of related compounds with similar properties.
The active form of vitamin B9 is a type of folate, levomefolic acid or 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF). Most of the folate ingested through food in the digestive system is converted into 5-MTHF before entering the bloodstream.

Folic acid

Folic acid is the synthetic form of vitamin B9, also known as pteroylmonoglutamic acid.
It is used in certain dietary supplements and added to processed foods, such as flour and breakfast cereals, in some countries. Unlike folate, not all of the consumed folic acid is converted into the active form of vitamin B9—5-MTHF—in your digestive system. Instead, it must be converted in the liver or other tissues. However, this process is slow and inefficient for some people. After taking a folic acid supplement, it takes time for the body to convert all of it into 5-MTHF.

What naturally contains folate?

- asparagus
- avocado
- Brussels sprouts
- leafy greens, such as spinach and lettuce

Occurrence of folate deficiency

A diet lacking in foods rich in folate or folic acid can lead to folate deficiency. Folate deficiency can also occur in people suffering from conditions such as celiac disease, which prevent the small intestine from absorbing nutrients from food (malabsorption).

What are the symptoms of folate deficiency?

Pale skin
Decreased appetite
Irritability
Lack of energy or easy fatigue
Diarrhea
Smooth and sensitive tongue

Folate deficiency anemia is a lack of folate in the blood. Folate is a B vitamin that helps the body produce red blood cells. If you do not have enough red blood cells, you have anemia.
Red blood cells carry oxygen to every part of the body. If you are anemic, your blood cannot carry enough oxygen to all your tissues and organs. Without enough oxygen, your body cannot function as well as it should.
Low folate levels can cause megaloblastic anemia. In this condition, red blood cells are larger than normal. There are fewer of these cells. They are also oval-shaped rather than round. Sometimes these red blood cells do not live as long as normal red blood cells.