not stored in large amount
- significant amount are excreted every day
- so if stop ingestion of folic acid
signs of deficiency would develop within weeks
- Causes of deficiency; poor diet (alcoholism), malabsorption
- Dietary sources, present in all foods Green vegetable, liver, yeast
-Folic acid preparation: Inactive form: folacin, folate, folic acid, Active form: leucovorin, folinic acid - side effect : non toxic