Folic acid was initially isolated from spinach leaves, an event that resulted in its common name, which is derived from the Latin word folium, meaning “leaf.” The vitamin was first produced synthetically in 1945, and since that time has been included in a wide array of supplements and many fortified foods, such as cereals. These items have played an important role in ensuring that individuals regularly consume the recommended dietary allowance of folic acid, which is 400 micrograms for adults. In the body, the vitamin functions in such a way that promotes normal red blood cell formation, aids in the maintenance of the central nervous system, and promotes normal growth and development.