Vitamin B9

Does folic acid give you more energy?

Updated 9 Nov 2026

Short answer

The evidence is about anemia, not about energy in healthy people. A lack of folate causes megaloblastic anemia, with weakness, tiredness and shortness of breath.[1] In 371 pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia, iron with folinic acid, a form of folate, raised hemoglobin more than iron alone. The trial measured hemoglobin, not tiredness.[2]

Sources (2)

  1. Folate: Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. ods.od.nih.gov
  2. Iron plus folate is more effective than iron alone in the treatment of iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy: a randomised, double blind clinical trial. Juarez-Vazquez J, Bonizzoni E, Scotti A BJOG, 2002. PMID 12269674

More about vitamin b9

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For education; not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before you start, stop or change a supplement.