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B-12 and Folic Acid.

My investigation into this nutritional item includes these quotations:

"BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA. It is becoming increasingly clear that fruits, vegetables, fiber, and antioxidant vitamins are potent protectors against many forms of cancer. Now folic acid has been added to the list. A recent study shows that increased dietary intake of folic acid significantly reduces the risk of developing adenomas (tumors) of the colon and rectum. Dr. Gladys Block of the University of California points out that only 9% of all Americans consume the recommended five or more servings a day of fruits and vegetables. She recommends that serious consideration be given to fortifying food and/or urging people to use antioxidant supplements so as to reduce the incidence of cancer.

Block, Gladys Micronutrients and cancer: time for action? Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 85, No. 11, June 2, 1993, pp. 846-47"

http://www.pinc.com/healthnews/folate.html

"Folic acid, as well as vitamin B-12, are necessary in the synthesis of many important components of the nervous system including:

* Neurotransmitters
* Myelin
* Phosphatidylcholine

In addition, high levels of homocysteine in the blood have been associated with a decline in cognitive ability in the elderly. Homocysteine levels are known to rise when you are deficient in folic acid or vitamin B-12. The B vitamins are a group of water-soluble essential micronutrients which are closely interrelated in their functions, which span a huge range of vital bodily processes. The main components of the B vitamins are: B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinic acid and nicotinamide), B5 (pantothenic acid), B6 (pyridoxine), B12 (cyanocobalamin), folic acid, biotin, choline and inositol. B vitamins should preferably be taken in the form of a B complex. Obtaining adequate Vitamin B12 is especially important for vegetarians, since B12 is found only in animal foods and bacteria/ yeast. Folic acid and vitamins B-6 and B-12 helps lower and control homocysteine (an amino acid) levels in the blood, recently gaining recognition as a risk factor for heart disease."

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I also offer these references:

http://www.mercola.com/2005/jul/5/folic_acid_aging.htm

http://www.positivehealth.com/permit/Articles/Cancer/good5.htm

The U.S. Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for folate is 180 - 200 micrograms (mcg). Rich dietary sources of folate are recommended over supplements. They include:

* Dark green, leafy vegetables
* Whole wheat bread
* Lightly cooked beans and peas
* Nuts and seeds
* Sprouts
* Oranges and grapefruits
* Liver and other organ meats
* Poultry
* Fortified breakfast cereals and enriched grain products

Folic acid, or folate, is a B complex vitamin (also known as Vitamin B9) used by the body to produce red blood cells. These complex vitamins are necessary to correctly metabolize proteins and fats and help to maintain the digestive tract, skin, hair, nervous system, muscles, and other tissues in the body. Folic acid assists in producing RNA and DNA and is essential in periods of rapid growth such as pregnancy, adolescence, and infancy. Working alongside vitamin B12, folic acid helps control the production of red blood cells and helps iron work correctly in the body.