Folic acid (folacin, folate, vitamin B9) is a vital vitamin for the proper functioning of the human body. Folates are found in foodstuffs of plant and animal origin. Among the plant products their high content can be found in raw and short cooked green leafy vegetables. Among the products of animal origin its high amount is found in offal. Low intake of folic acid in the diet and, as a result, too low a level of this vitamin in the body can be a substrate for many diseases. Elderly people are exposed to folate deficiencies not only because of dietary errors. The cause may be reduced absorption or lifestyle factors. The most serious health consequences for older people are associated with high levels of homocysteine ​​in blood, which is the reason for cognitive impairment, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Providing the body's required amount of folate in the diet is problematic since the long-term storage of food products that are its natural source and their technological processing affect negatively the amount and bioavailability of this vitamin. It is therefore necessary to use supplementation.

Key words: folic acid, the elderly, food supplementation.