Folic acid can detoxify arsenic in the blood

Folic acid, a very readily available vitamin in green leafy vegetables, can "remove" arsenic in the arteries of poisoned people from groundwater, a new study in Bangladesh shows.

Arsenic is one of the natural toxins that exists in soil and water. Chronic arsenic toxicity can last for many years due to the use of arsenic-contaminated water and is associated with skin cancer, liver cancer and bladder cancer; Skin lesions and cardiovascular disease.

There are about 100 million people around the world who suffer from chronic arsenic poisoning and are particularly serious in Bangladesh (where millions of shallow wells have been dug from the 1970s to be used for living and drinking water is found to be infected arsenic in 1993).

Folic acid supplements will help increase urinary arsenic excretion.

In response to this situation, a study funded by the American Institute of Health Research (NIH) showed that taking 400 micrograms of folic acid per day will significantly reduce the amount of arsenic in the blood. The study was published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in October 2008.

Folate is a B vitamin, found in green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, beans and whole grains . Folic acid is also synthesized in tablet form. In the United States, folate is added to wheat flour and some foods. While, folate deficiency is very common in Bangladesh.

"Folic acid supplements will help increase urinary arsenic excretion , " explained lead researcher Mary Gamble, who works at Columbia University, "This is a simple and inexpensive way to protect long-term health. Long for those who used arsenic-contaminated water ".

However, more research is needed to determine the dose and duration used to achieve the best results.