Folic Acid is an essential pre-pregnancy nutrient when planning to conceive.Folate and folic acid are vitamin B9 forms that are used to treat deficiency and to avoid pregnancy problems. Homocysteine levels in the blood are elevated (hyperhomocysteinemia). Brain and spine birth disorders (neural tube birth malformations). Taking 600-800 mcg of folic acid orally daily during pregnancy lowers the chance of several birth abnormalities. Some persons with depression will see an improvement in their symptoms. Some persons with high blood pressure who are not taking other blood pressure drugs find that it lowers their blood pressure. – Helps the body to metabolize proteins. – Helps produce red blood cells.