Vitamin B9

Vitamin B9 participates in one carbon unit transfer in the form of tetrahydrofolate:

• Nucleic acid synthesis: involved in purine and thymidine synthesis, affecting DNA replication and cell division
• Amino acid metabolism: mediating the conversion of homocysteine to methionine
• Deficiency syndrome: leading to megaloblastic anemia, neural tube defects (in pregnant women), and increased cardiovascular risk
• Clinical application: prevention of fetal neural tube defects, treatment of megaloblastic anemia, and reduction of homocysteine levels