Folate is a cofactor, or a small molecule that is involved in the function of an enzyme. It's involved in a number of enzymatic reactions; perhaps the most important relate to the biosynthesis of DNA.
It's amazing to think about the fact that we've only known about its existence for seventy-odd years, considering its crucial role in metabolism. No doubt this was (partly) due to the fact that the requirement for folate is vanishingly small; it's on the order of half a milligram a day! Because of folate's central role in DNA synthesis (along with various other reactions, many of which are crucial to cell division); folate deficiency in pregnant women can be potentially dangerous. Any "prenatal vitamin" will contain folate because of this.
More like this
N-[4(2-Amino-4-hydroxy-pteridin-6-ylmethylamino)-benzoyl]-L(+)-glutamic
acid is the name of a vitamin. Since the full name is a bit
awkward, it is more commonly known as folic acid, or
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folate">folate.
According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, folate (which includes folates from food and folic acid supplements) is important for amino acid metabolism and methylation reactions in the body.
(This is a public health announcement for women and men.)
News agencies are, appropriately, reporting on the finding that the
average levels of folate in American women are falling. (e.g.
See also: yesterday's entry on folate.