Folate is a B vitamin that your body needs to build and repair DNA, the instruction manual for your cells. When you don’t get enough folate from food, your cells can’t work properly and your DNA can get damaged. Scientists reviewed research showing how folate deficiency causes these problems in your body. Understanding this connection is important because it helps explain why folate is so critical for health and why some diseases are linked to not having enough of this vitamin.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How low folate levels damage DNA and cause genetic problems in cells
  • Who participated: This is a review article that examined many previous studies about folate and DNA damage—not a single study with participants
  • Key finding: Folate deficiency causes multiple ways that DNA can become damaged and unstable, which may lead to serious health problems
  • What it means for you: Getting enough folate from food or supplements may help protect your DNA from damage. This is especially important for pregnant women, people with genetic conditions affecting folate use, and those taking certain medications

The Research Details

This is a review article, which means scientists read and summarized many previous research studies on the same topic. Instead of doing one new experiment, the authors looked at what other researchers had already discovered about how folate deficiency damages DNA. They organized this information to help readers understand the different ways that low folate causes problems in cells. This type of study is helpful because it brings together knowledge from many different experiments to show the bigger picture.

A review article is valuable because it helps scientists and doctors understand what we know so far about a topic. By looking at many studies together, researchers can see patterns and connections that might not be obvious from just one study. This helps identify what we still need to learn and guides future research.

This review was published in The Journal of Cell Biology, which is a highly respected scientific journal that only publishes carefully reviewed research. The authors examined existing research on a well-established topic, so the information is based on solid scientific evidence. However, as a review article, it summarizes other people’s work rather than presenting new experimental data.

What the Results Show

Folate is a B vitamin that your body cannot make on its own—you must get it from food or supplements. Folate is essential for a process called one-carbon metabolism, which is like a chemical factory in your cells that produces the building blocks needed to make DNA and repair it. When folate levels drop too low, this factory can’t work properly, and several bad things can happen to your DNA. The research shows that folate deficiency causes DNA damage through multiple different mechanisms, meaning there are several different ways that low folate hurts your genetic material.

The review identifies that folate deficiency can come from different sources: not eating enough folate-rich foods, genetic problems that prevent your body from absorbing or using folate properly, and certain medications (like some cancer drugs) that block folate use. Each of these causes can lead to DNA damage and genetic instability. The research also shows that these DNA problems are connected to various diseases and health conditions that happen when people don’t have enough folate.

Scientists have known for a long time that low folate causes genetic problems, but this review brings together current understanding of exactly how this happens. It confirms that the connection between folate deficiency and DNA damage is real and important, and it helps explain why folate has been linked to so many different diseases in previous research.

As a review article, this study doesn’t present new experimental data, so it depends on the quality of previous research. The review focuses on the biological mechanisms of how folate deficiency damages DNA but doesn’t provide new information about how common these problems are in real people or how to treat them. Readers should understand that while the science is solid, applying these findings to individual health situations requires guidance from a doctor.

The Bottom Line

Make sure you get enough folate from your diet by eating leafy green vegetables, legumes, asparagus, and fortified grains. If you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant, have a genetic condition affecting folate metabolism, or take medications that affect folate, talk to your doctor about whether you need a folate supplement. This recommendation has strong scientific support.

Everyone should care about getting enough folate, but it’s especially important for pregnant women (folate prevents birth defects), people with genetic conditions affecting folate use, those taking certain medications like methotrexate, and people with digestive disorders that prevent proper nutrient absorption. If you have concerns about your folate levels, speak with your healthcare provider.

Folate works continuously in your cells to protect your DNA, so the benefits of adequate folate are ongoing rather than something you’ll notice overnight. However, if you’ve been deficient, it may take several weeks to months of adequate folate intake to fully restore your cells’ ability to repair DNA properly.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily folate intake by logging folate-rich foods (spinach, broccoli, lentils, fortified cereals) and note any supplements taken. Aim for 400 micrograms daily for adults, 600 micrograms if pregnant.
  • Add one folate-rich food to each meal: spinach in breakfast eggs, lentil soup for lunch, or roasted asparagus with dinner. Use the app to set daily reminders and track which foods you’ve included.
  • Weekly review of folate intake patterns to ensure consistency. If taking supplements, log doses and set refill reminders. For those with genetic conditions or on medications affecting folate, share tracked data with healthcare provider at regular checkups.

This article summarizes scientific research about how folate deficiency affects DNA. It is not medical advice. If you have concerns about your folate levels, are pregnant or planning pregnancy, have a genetic condition, or take medications that affect folate metabolism, please consult with your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet or supplements. This review discusses biological mechanisms but does not replace personalized medical evaluation and treatment recommendations from qualified healthcare professionals.