Vitamin B9 is also known as folate or folic acid. Folate is the generic term for naturally occurring forms found in foods, while folic acid is the synthetic form used in supplements and fortified foods. Both are crucial for various bodily functions.
Understanding the Different Names
- Folate: This refers to the naturally occurring forms of vitamin B9 present in foods like leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, and beans.
- Folic acid: This is the synthetic form of folate, created in laboratories and added to fortified foods and supplements. The body converts folic acid into folate for use.
- Vitamin B9: This is simply another name for both folate and folic acid, highlighting its place within the B vitamin family.
Multiple sources confirm this:
- The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements (https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-Consumer/) states that "A form of folate, called folic acid, is used in fortified foods and most dietary supplements."
- Mount Sinai (https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/vitamin-b9-folic-acid) clearly states that "Vitamin B9, also called folate or folic acid, is one of 8 B vitamins."
- The NHS (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-b/) includes folate and folic acid in its list of B vitamins.
These interchangeable names can sometimes lead to confusion, but understanding the relationship between folate and folic acid is key to understanding vitamin B9's role in health.
