Q. I eat a healthy diet so I don't think that I should take a folic acid supplement, am I right?

A. There are two different forms of Folic Acid:

• The synthetic form found in vitamins and fortified bread and grains like breakfast cereals

• Natural form (also called Folate), which is found in leafy, green vegetables like broccoli and spinach and some fruits

Our bodies absorb the synthetic form more easily than the natural form. Sometimes particularly in Western society, our diet does not contain sufficient fresh fruit and vegetables to get the recommended daily dose of Folic Acid. Folic Acid is also easily depleted by factors such as pollution, excessive alcohol, smoking and a fast food diet.

Finally, large portions of fruit and vegetables need to be consumed each day to obtain sufficient daily levels of Folic Acid, for example, 20 cups of spinach per day would need to be consumed and this is not always practical or desirable.

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