Folic acid is needed for DNA synthesis.
Adequate intake of folic acid early in pregnancy is important for preventing most neural tube birth defects 1 and may also protect against some birth defects of the arms, legs, and heart. Excess homocysteine has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease in most studies and may also be linked to osteoporosis, strokes, and Alzheimer's disease. Beans, leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, beets, wheat germ, and meat are good sources of folic acid. Most people do not consume the recommended amount of folic acid. Recently, scientists have found that many people with heart disease have elevated blood levels of homocysteine, which is often controllable with folic acid.