Benefits and risks of folic acid to the nervous system
Open Access
- 1 May 2002
- journal article
- review article
- Published by BMJ in Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
- Vol. 72 (5) , 567-571
- https://doi.org/10.1136/jnnp.72.5.567
Abstract
During three decades of neurological practice I have witnessed a remarkable change in attitudes to the benefits and risks of folic acid therapy in nervous system disorders. In the 1960s all that was known and taught was that folic acid was harmful to the nervous system, especially in precipitating or exacerbating the neurological complications of vitamin B12 deficiency. So deeply held was this view that the possibility of neuropsychological benefits from this vitamin was initially viewed with considerable scepticism.1Keywords
This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit:
- Folate in CSF and ageJournal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 2000
- Phenytoin Pharmacokinetics: Before and After Folic Acid AdministrationEpilepsia, 1992
- The Switch Mechanism and the Bipolar/Unipolar DichotomyThe British Journal of Psychiatry, 1989
- Folic acid enhances lithium prophylaxisJournal of Affective Disorders, 1985
- METHYLATION AND MOODThe Lancet, 1984
- Cobalamin inactivation by nitrous oxide produces severe neurological impairment in fruit bats : Protection by methionine and aggravation by folatesLife Sciences, 1982
- Folate-Responsive Neurological and Mental Disorders: Report of 16 CasesEuropean Neurology, 1977
- FOLATE STATUS IN A GERIATRIC POPULATION AND ITS RELATION TO DEMENTIAAge and Ageing, 1973
- MENTAL EFFECTS OF ANTICONVULSANTS, AND FOLIC ACID METABOLISMBrain, 1968
- EFFECTS OF FOLIC ACID ON THE MENTAL STATE AND FIT-FREQUENCY OF DRUG-TREATED EPILEPTIC PATIENTSThe Lancet, 1967