How does the body use folic acid?
The body more readily absorbs folic acid from vitamin pills and fortified foods than it absorbs folate from food. It is estimated that 50 percent of food folate is absorbed by the body, while approximately 85 percent of folic acid in fortified foods and 100 percent of folic acid in vitamin pills are absorbed. The body does not know the difference between natural and synthetic sources of the vitamin; however, once it reaches the bloodstream, it functions the same way.