Folic acid is a vitamin that in some circumstances of our life is very necessary. It is one of the B vitamins, especially important in the growth time, adolescence and during pregnancy.
This vitamin helps prevent certain birth defects related to the brain and spinal cord (called neural tube defects). Hence it is advised that the woman consumed before conception and during early stage of pregnancy to prevent these defects (for women age who may become pregnant, the recommendation is 400 mcg. Folic acid daily).
The difference between folic acid and folate is that the former is vitamin B complex man-made and is used as a vitamin supplement and added to certain foods (called enriched or fortified foods), while folate is the natural way of vitamin B complex and is found naturally in some foods.
