folic acid

noun Biochemistry.

a water-soluble vitamin that is converted to a coenzyme essential to purine and thymine biosynthesis: deficiency causes a form of anemia.
Also called folate.

Origin of folic acid

First recorded in 1940–45

Words nearby folic acid

foliated, foliated joint, foliation, foliature, folic, folic acid, folic acid antagonists, folie, folie de grandeur, folie du doute, folie à deux

British Dictionary definitions for folic acid

folic acid
/ (ˈfəʊlɪk, ˈfɒl-, ˈfəʊleɪt) /

noun

any of a group of vitamins of the B complex, including pteroylglutamic acid and its derivatives: used in the treatment of megaloblastic anaemia Also called: folacin

Derived forms of folic acid

folate, noun, adjective

Word Origin for folic acid

C20: from Latin folium leaf; so called because it may be obtained from green leaves

Medical definitions for folic acid

folic acid
[ fō′lĭk, fŏl′ĭk ]

n.

A yellowish-orange compound of the vitamin B complex group, occurring in green plants, fresh fruit, liver, and yeast. folacin folate vitamin Bc

Scientific definitions for folic acid

folic acid
[ fō′lĭk, fŏl′ĭk ]

A water-soluble vitamin belonging to the vitamin B complex that is necessary for the formation of red blood cells and important in embryonic development. It is also the parent compound of coenzymes in various metabolic reactions. Folic acid is found especially in green leafy vegetables, liver, and fresh fruit. Deficiency of folic acid in the diet results in anemia. Chemical formula: C19H19N7O6.