Folic Acid is one of the B vitamins needed for proper cell replication & growth, helping to form the building blocks of DNA & RNA for proper protein synthesis in all cells. Rapidly growing tissue, such as those of a developing foetus or red blood cell production have a very high need for folic acid. Also known as vitamin B9, it forms part of the vitamin B complex. The primary use of folic acid supplementation in the western world is to protect against the instance of birth defects, especially neural tube defects such as spina bifida. The UK government recommends that pregnant women & those trying to conceive, take at least 400µg of Folic Acid daily. Recent research has also shown that a regular daily intake of Folic Acid may also help prevent heart disease, such as strokes & angina, by lowering homocysteine levels, one of the key risk factors.