Folic Acid is a vitamin used as a supplement for may health conditions including: AIDS, anemia, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), cancer prevention and treatment, osteoporosis, preventing birth defects, peridontal (gum) disease, depression, heart disease, and ulcerative colitis. It is also taken when there is a loss of Folic Acid from the body caused from taking birth control pills or anticonvulsants (medicine) Other names for Folic Acid include: Folate, Folacin, and Pteeroylmonoglutamate. Check with your doctor before taking Folic Acid